Emotion-Tracker App/Read Faster/MDMA Experience

1. Be delighted by the best emotion-tracker app I've used (And stuck with...iOS only)
2. Use this superior and multi-format group-chat app to stay connected with your friends, family, or any other group
3. Read why social media can put you into a dissociative state
4. This therapist tried MDMA, and it shaped her perspective on psychedelic therapy
5. Read this excellent list of tips for how to be successful in life
6. Read any webpage faster with this Chrome extension (Seriously)
7. Cake on an ultra-affordable clay mask to unclog your pores

Be delighted by the best emotion-tracker app I've used (And stuck with - iOS only)

Why this iOS app matters for your mental health

I try a lot of mental health apps and then promptly stop using them after day one. I have a very high bar for what stays on my phone. 

How We Feel was higher than the bar. And then some. This is such a beautiful, useful emotion tracker. I've been using it for about a week and can see how it will benefit me. With subtle reminders, stylish analytics, helpful mental-health activities, and explanatory videos, How We Feel is SO well done. And it's free!

Use this superior and multi-format group chat app to stay connected with your friends, family, or any other group

Why this web + mobile app matters for your mental health

I learned about Geneva within the last year, and I'm still impressed by how this group-chat app stacks ups against the traditional options like WhatsApp and Telegram. 

It really was designed for the modern age and the various ways we communicate. If you want to organize any kind of group, I suggest you check this out. It's free and available on iOS, Android, and web browsers.

Read why social media can put you into a dissociative state

Why this 2-minute article matters for your mental health

I read this article describing a recent study about the effects of social media use, and this section about creating an "end-of-use experience" for social media platforms stood out: 

"Overall, the team said the problem with social media isn’t that people lack self-control but that the platforms aren’t designed to maximize the things they value. “Taking these so-called mindless breaks can be really restorative,” Baughan said. “But social media platforms are designed to keep people scrolling. When we are in a dissociative state, we have a diminished sense of agency, which makes us more vulnerable to those designs and we lose track of time. These platforms need to create an end-of-use experience, so that people can have it fit in their day with their time-management goals.”

On a related note, Professor Scott Galloway compares TikTok to opium dens for kids. After using the app for one day, I absolutely agree.

This therapist tried MDMA, and it shaped her perspective on psychedelic therapy

Why this 3-minute article matters for your mental health

Psychedelic therapy is here, whether we like it or not. I've been trying to educate myself by reading articles, watching videos, and searching for trusted brands. 

My ears and eyes perk up a bit whenever I hear or see mental health professionals putting themselves out there in this new and exciting realm. I respect anyone who puts their reputation out there for standing up for what they believe in.

Read this excellent list of tips for how to be successful in life

Why this thoughtful list matters for your mental health

Even though this is based on Sam Altman's experience in the upper echelons of the tech world, I think the advice can apply to anyone. 

The wisdom about compounding yourself is something I think about all the time. I also really resonated with his thoughts on being an independent thinker and being internally driven versus externally driven. I've found that my mental health plummets whenever I start comparing myself to others.

Read any webpage faster with this Chrome extension (Seriously)

Why this reading tool matters for your mental health

This has been making the rounds in the last week or so in tech circles, but I have a feeling not everyone has heard about this yet. 

I was so skeptical that Bionic Reading could help me read faster, but it really seems to work. I've used the Chrome extension to read a few longer articles, and it felt like I was more focused and that my brain didn't have to work as hard. 

The idea is that, by bolding the first few letters of each word, your brain can automatically fill in the gaps and read faster. I already consider myself a bionic man because of my titanium aortic heart valve, so why not give my brain an upgrade?

Cake on an ultra-affordable clay mask to unclog your pores

Why this skincare product matters for your mental health

I thought it was a dumb idea to mention a few months ago that I use a Japanese washcloth to scrape off dead skin, but it ended up being one of the most popular links I've ever shared. 

I have particularly bad genetics when it comes to skin. I've had clogged pores all over my body since puberty. Aztec Secret is probably the best clay mask I've used, and it's incredibly affordable. 

I've also tried "fancy," more expensive ones that have all kinds of additional ingredients and smells, but I keep coming back to this one. Having (somewhat) clear skin on my face really improves my mood and self-confidence.