Sunday 3 May 2026 in 2026

Dear A,
I woke at half six this morning and scrolled in bed until eight. When I finally got up, the day was routine (Greek yogurt for breakfast, a disappointing tuna wrap for lunch, and an abandoned attempt at cleaning). Evening came, and I watched a French adaptation of The Count of Monte Cristo. The novel resonates—who hasn’t imagined settling scores with someone who wronged them? This adaptation moved quickly and changed the original plot somewhat, but I couldn’t help but admire that core fantasy: revenge served with aplomb.
I worked for a few hours this afternoon and planned the week ahead. Despite the current cultural obsession with filling every hour of the day, I find it untenable and, frankly, misleading. The internet’s productivity myth often glosses over the fact that we’re not machines. I don’t believe those who claim every minute is optimised; either it’s a façade, or they’re burning out. Today, I rested when I needed to and worked when I could focus, and that balance yielded results. Real productivity isn’t about scheduling every second; it’s about knowing when to act and when to pause, because no one is at their best running on empty. Perhaps the novel’s illusion of perfect revenge is no different from the internet’s productivity cult—both are fictions we tell ourselves.
What did you do today?