Welcome to the Happy Monday newsletter. Every Monday, I share three pieces of curated content to brighten your day and an action item to motivate you for the week. Here's what I have for you today...

What secret talents do dogs have?
Where can music transport you?
How do your choices affect who you become?
Why does your workspace influence the quality of your thoughts?

Curious?
Keep reading...

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For your eyes

When my friends go on holiday, I take care of their dogs. One of them is Bonny. She is a multilingual dog with an impressive vocabulary. She knows left and right, can count up to 5, and understands the difference between barking and speaking. I taught her all those little things, which turned out to be quite useful.

I also sing her a version of "Soft Kitty" (Soft Bonny) as a lullaby, and she recognises the song when she hears it on telly. But she is yet to sing herself.

So, when I saw this video last week, a light bulb went off in my head. Get ready for singing lessons, Bonny!

​Watch my inspiration here. Guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

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For your ears

July 2018. Lying under the sun next to a stone bridge by River Maine, listening to "Lost in Paris" before getting lost in Paris. Tom Misch's "Geography" album always takes me back to that day in France.

A blend of jazz, funk, soul... It's like a sunny day with a refreshing breeze. Listen on Spotify​

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For your mind

Creating a space you love working in

To use your time wisely, you need available mind space. However, if your environment is cluttered, that would affect you mentally. Clearing up your desk, organising your office space, and decluttering your digital files will substantially improve your mood and, as a result, your productivity.

In the next few weeks, I'll send you tips to organise your work environment one step at a time, starting with your physical workspace.

When you like your work environment, you can enjoy working there. This week, spare 30-60 minutes to organise your office space.

• Look around while sitting at your desk. Is there anything that takes your mind off work or creates visual noise? Remove the distracting items to create a clean environment. This will help you maintain your focus when you look away from your computer to rest your eyes or think (I do this often).
• Adjust the light in your environment. Natural light is ideal for boosting mood and reducing eye strain, so position your desk to maximise daylight when possible. If natural light is limited, make sure you have proper lighting that illuminates your work area without causing glare on your screen.
• Assess every item on your desk based on your needs and wants. For each item, ask yourself, "Do I need it or use it regularly, or does it make me feel good?" If your answer is yes, keep it. If not, remove it from your desk. However, it's important not to create clutter somewhere else when removing items. So, deal with them there and then.
• Once you decide what to keep, clean your desk and rearrange the items to create a pleasant workspace.

Want feedback on your work environment? Reply to this email with a photo of your workspace, and I'll send personalised recommendations to help you create a more organised environment.

Next week, I'll share my best tips for decluttering your digital workspace. Can't wait that long? Book a free 20-minute Notion Chat with me to get a head start on decluttering your digital life.

Happy Monday, Reader

Merve Goulding

PS. You can now read all previous Happy Monday issues on my website. If you want to dive into the archives or send an issue to a friend, you can find them here.

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