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. Things like inspiration, design, music, food, small curiosities, and more.
If January was about planning, February feels like it is about doing. I’ve been looking for things that help bridge that gap and keep the momentum going. Here is what I found.
1. A visual cheat sheet for habits
To help make those new routines actually stick, I found this visual guide to Atomic Habits really helpful. Whether you’ve read the book or not, the visuals are incredibly well done. They make the concepts easy to take in and remember.
2. The master of light and shadow
I saw this video about photographer Fan Ho and was blown away. His black and white work from 1950s Hong Kong is a masterclass in light and geometry. Knowing he was self-taught makes his philosophy hit even harder: technique matters less than using “your eyes, mind and heart.”
3. Cozy background tunes
I’ve been really loving this channel while I work lately. The mix of jazzy lo-fi beats is exactly the right background noise. Engaging enough to be pleasant, but calm enough to help me actually focus.
4. Tiny art cards (ACEOs)
I recently discovered ACEOs (Art Cards, Editions and Originals) through this video by @whiskeyrabbitart. They’re essentially trading card-sized artworks (2.5" x 3.5"). Since I’m doing a daily sketch this year, I’m intrigued by the idea of switching to this format for a month. There’s something really approachable about filling such a small space. It feels less like a "project" and more like play.
5. Why travel photos look boring
This video by Richard Wong explains why photos often feel flat compared to our actual memories. It’s equal parts photography theory and Japan vlog. The section on editing really hit home for me. I came back from Japan with 8,000 photos and spent a full year narrowing them down to my favourite 300. Seeing his Lightroom catalog look just as chaotic as mine was oddly reassuring. It’s nice to know I’m not the only one.
Hard to believe January is already behind us. Hope your year is off to a great start! Thanks for reading the Fun Five. If there’s something you’ve been really into lately, feel free to reach out and share it.