To-Do List Tip/Mental Health Saint/Human-Nature Laws

The Mental Health Update exists to help curious people make sense of mental health. We do this through highly accessible, deeply meaningful mental-health content created for all learning styles.

1. See the planner I use to set weekly tasks and three-month goals
2. Watch an entertaining video about how to set up your to-do list for maximum effectiveness
3. Consider this compelling book about why people act the way they do
4. Watch a 1-minute video about why TikTok is changing what people focus on (And their mental health)
5. Understand the intense story of the patron saint of mental health (And the evolving perception of mental health in the Catholic Church)

See the planner I use to set weekly tasks and three-month goals

I've been using it for a few years now. It's way more than a planner--it's an entire methodology geared towards helping you figure out what's most important in life. 

After you do that (you really only have to do it the first time you get a planner, unless your dreams change all the time), you choose your biggest three-month goal. This helps you keep your main focus top of mind as you plan the days and weeks in the three-month period.

I feel so much more confident and composed using this planner.

Watch an entertaining video about how to set up your to-do list for maximum effectiveness

Why this technique matters for your mental health

Neville Medhora is one goofy guy. But he's also incredibly productive. I've been learning about copywriting from him for several years, and even if you have no interest in writing online, his weekly S.T.U.P.I.D. newsletter is one of the most thoughtful, hilarious ones I read.

This video is all about using a simple pen-and-paper to-do list to get more done each day. He's been using this method for a LONG time. 

I agree with Neville: I've found that using plain-old paper for my tasks helps me stay more focused each week. 

I write down my daily tasks in the Goal Crazy Planner I mentioned above, and I'm experimenting with setting my to-do list the night before. So far so good!

Consider this compelling book about why people act the way they do

Why this book matters for your mental health

I've been really enjoying this book by Robert Greene. 

It's a unique take on the self-help-through-life-lessons genre. 

Greene researches his books for years and years before he finishes them, and it shows.

He's known for provocative takes on timeless issues, and I'm liking The Laws of Human Nature a lot more than I liked The 48 Laws of Power. However, if power and manipulation are your thing (no judgment), then you will probably like the second book more. I'm just a sensitive super-feeler, that's all, and need to pick what I consume very carefully.

Watch a 1-minute video about why TikTok is changing what people focus on (And their mental health)

Professor Scott Galloway, or Prof G as he is known to his fans, is not for everyone, but he is for me.

He educates people about business, technology, and marketing through an email newsletter, weekly videos, his own weekly podcast and office hours AND ANOTHER weekly podcast he does with tech journalist Kara Swisher.

His style is aggressive, goofy, and irreverent, but I always learn something from him. I like challenging myself to learn about issues from experts who have studied them for decades. 

I find drawing on people's personal experience is the best way to learn about mental health as well.

Understand the shocking story of the patron saint of mental health (And the evolving perception of mental health in the Catholic Church)

Why this LA Times article matters for your mental health

This was a fascinating article. It covers some sensitive mental health topics in an insightful, historical way.

I wasn't well versed in how the Catholic Church viewed mental health, and I had zero knowledge of the patron saint of mental health. I did have some experience with scrupulosity, a religion-related psychological issue, because of someone I met in my social work master's program who struggled with it.

Still, this article helped me see the big picture of mental health in the modern Catholic Church through the ancient but fascinating story of Saint Dymphna.

What did you think of this week's newsletter?

1. It was great! I loved it.
2. It was pretty good.
3. It was OK.
4. I really didn't like it all.