Fun Five is a monthly email I send out on the 5th. Each edition is a short list of five things I’ve been enjoying lately. Inspiration, design, music, food, small curiosities, and more.
Since this is the first edition and it’s landing at the start of the year, this one is focused on self-improvement and things that have been helping me recently.
1. A reminder about motivation and worrying
I really enjoyed this quote from Arnold Schwarzenegger about motivation, and this one about worrying. In a follow-up, he adds: “It is better to deal with one problem when it happens than 100 imagined problems.”
2. The $10 million question
This $10 million question might help put some things in perspective.
3. Daily sketching, one page at a time
One of my goals for 2026 is to draw one sketch a day, every day. A quick twenty minutes. More if I feel like it. Albert Kiefer’s Domestika course and Scottie Sketching’s YouTube channel have made sketching feel approachable instead of intimidating. Also, special shoutout to @shyliemakesart on TikTok for making quick art sketches seem so fun and accessible, and getting me interested in daily sketches in the first place. She shows and talks through her process as she’s creating, and her art style makes it seem so quick and effortless. I absolutely love how this one turned out.
4. A small app that changed my phone habits
I’ve been using ScreenZen for just over 100 days now and I’m really enjoying it. I used to reflexively open TikTok or Instagram whenever I picked up my phone, and this app helped me break that habit surprisingly easily.
It lets you limit how often you can open certain apps each day, with a time limit each time. I set mine to eight opens and ten minutes each. That small “Are you sure?” screen that pops up showing how many opens you have left added just enough friction to completely change my habits.
It’s completely free, but I actually liked it so much I paid for the $7 lifetime option just in case it ever switches to a subscription.
5. Why fruit comes in coloured mesh bags
This Scientific American video explains why fruits like oranges and avocados are often sold in coloured mesh bags. Spoiler: it’s not just for fun.
Thanks for being here and reading the first Fun Five. If there’s something you’ve been really into lately, feel free to reach out and share it.
P.S. New photography prints from Japan are now live. Hands of Hope might be my favourite photo I’ve ever taken.
