Notes from the Community, Volume 9
More art, more comments, more links. Settle in and find a few things you'll like. 🛋️
Friends and readers, thanks for being out there! I’m so glad to be writing this newsletter and interacting with lots of people in the community. Here’s our 9th roundup of community notes, featuring reader comments, links, and more.
Popular Comments 📝
Most posts have the option to comment—and it’s so fun to see readers jumping in!
In this section I’ll highlight a few recent comments that were upvoted the most by the community. (These are edited lightly for brevity, without changing the tone. Read the full comments and many more on each post’s page.)
From
, on the post The Myth of LazinessChris, have you been spying on me? Your ideal reader... that's so me! My whole life, I've put a lot of effort in doing meaningful work, only to reach a dead end – I get too tired, accept the defeat and move on to something different (not without feeling like a loser). I used to think I was lost, quitting so often because I didn't know what I wanted. But after a huge burnout, followed by depression (and quitting again) and an autism diagnosis, I realized that I know what I want, but I don't know how I work, so my energy goes down the drain. Now I'm learning how I function, respecting my limits and needs, getting proper help. YOMH has been playing a huge part in that.
From
, on the post Gentle ProductivityI adore this! Thank you for sharing such a thoughtful and helpful post for us neurosparkly souls.
I also love using my visual timer. When I'm struggling to focus, I set the timer for 20 minutes and take a break to do something that brings me joy, like dancing to "Dance Monkey." It never fails to reignite my spark!
One important lesson I've learned is to not tackle the hardest task first (aka Eat the Frog). Forcing my brain to do something it doesn't want to do is like trying to corral a herd of wild horses. It depletes my energy before I've even started! 🤭
From
, on the post "Am I truly paying attention to my life?": A Conversation with Nora McInernyThank you for sharing this. Many lines will stay with me. This for example:
"I never felt like I was truly well because I conflated health and wellness with the absence or avoidance of discomfort or pain or suffering, instead of the ability to weather and integrate it. Today, I consider awareness to be the most important part of my mental health and wellbeing: am I truly paying attention to my life? "
I look forward to checking out Nora's work.
From
, on the post The Eighth Day of the WeekThe eighth day, the ideal day, for me is always one free of an agenda. No one else's agenda, nor a rigid to-do list I've created for myself. I just flow without watching the clock: casual tea time in the morning; exercise for as long as I want; read, daydream, paint, play with the dogs, whatever my heart desires throughout the day. Then end the day with reading in bed (which I do now, every day), maybe even a good movie.
I just want a simple life!
From
, on the post “Everything changes as long as you keep moving."This is the thing about thinkers, we tend to get stuck in the thought. That inertia is a killer when it comes to getting things done, right?
It isn't because there is no thought, it is almost as if there is TOO MUCH thought. Contingencies and plans to account for the plans and contingencies that never happen and then another set of plans and by the time you get done, the opportunity has passed and you end up being frustrated and digging yourself a righteous hole every time.
Yet action is the way to get those plans, to get those contingencies. All of the thinking and planning in the world means nothing if you don't get feedback from action first.
Default to action and even if it isn't perfect, it still is because you received the perfect feedback on it. Yes, no, go, stay.
Just don't stop.
From
, on the post “What matters to me right now?”,When I was younger, someone said to me that the most important thing for them was to bring value to every situation they were in--whether work, or hosting dinner parties. I didn't fully understand it at the time, but now that I'm in my 60s, I do. What's important to me is being a positive influence in all my relationships--professional and personal.
From
, on the post Unlearning,I’m unlearning hyper independence and never asking for help—life gives lots of reinforcement for this being a good thing but recently I’ve come to realize how it’s hurt me and the people around me. My tendency to do everything by myself and withdraw shows up as avoidance, unspoken resentment, and confusion for others.
And from
, on the post What If You Could Work Only One Hour a Day?I do this all the time with chores I don’t want to do. I give myself x minutes to do y. Example, 15 minutes to clean the kitchen.
But the real issue is paid employee work. I’ve been working a long time, in different functions. I am questioning everything including the concept of an eight hour day. If I can zero in, plan, organize something in an hour or two and execute, that most people could never do, what is that two hours really worth?
Art & Other Fun Things
Note: if you like any of these images, be sure to click through on the links. What’s included here is just a small selection of the full work.
Posts and Stories I Liked
In addition to my regular browsing, every couple of weeks I do a public call for submissions. I’ll share many of the links that people send me in future posts.
Here are a few posts I’ve enjoyed recently:
Actually, I don’t want to work by
Caroline Cala Is All Out of F*cks by
When TikTok Therapy Is More Lucrative Than Seeing Clients by Rebecca Jennings
Your Somatic Therapist Wants You to Stop Wearing Your Oura Ring by
Stop Rewarding Victimhood and Bring Back Defiance by
Note: if you’re publishing a newsletter, feel free to comment in this post with the name of your publication so that other readers can find you.
What We’ve Covered So Far
We’re now 24 weeks into the year. So far we’ve covered:
Introduction, It Was Going So Well, Unhelpful Life Advice, From Rejection to Reflection, Overthinking, A Couch Can Make You Happy, “I Wish I’d Made That Change Later,” Why This Now?, “Your Voicemail Isn’t Working,” Your Last 40 Minutes, Imposter Syndrome Isn’t What You Think, Consider the Opposite of What You’re Worried About, How I Use (and Don’t Use) Adderall to Focus, You Can Be Better than You Are, Is It Always Best to "Do What Makes You Happy"?, A Tale of Two Yoga Teachers, The Felt Sense, No One Teaches You How to Breathe, The Trauma of Adult Undiagnosed ADHD, “What matters to me right now?”, Lessons From Your Six-Year-Old-Self, Try This When You Aren’t Sure What To Do, Time Anxiety: Can You Take a Quick Survey?, If You Can't Learn Math It's Not Your Fault, Consider this if you like taking care of people, Time Blindness, The Perks of Being Misunderstood, You’re Always Going to Lose at Something, Election Anxiety Is Real, So Make a Plan to Disengage, Attention Has a Cost, What Is "Demand Avoidance"? A Case Study, Can You Be Much Happier than You Thought?, Do You Have a “Granny Hobby”?, 15 Ways to Self-Sabotage, Why Is It Hard to Be Different?, Why Do I Put Off Seeing My Friends?, Exposure Therapy, You Are Not the Failure Point, Antidepressants Save Lives, Who Should Read “A Year of Mental Health”? “Everything changes as long as you keep moving.", What If You Could Work Only One Hour a Day?, Unlearning, Gentle Productivity: 5 Tips for Neurodivergent-Friendly Work Habits, “What matters to me right now?”, Take Moderate Risks Every Day, The Myth of Laziness
Also! A set of simple activities that can each be completed in 15 minutes or less:
As well as an interview series, featuring people with something to say that the world needs hearing:
"The world is a better place when I take up space": A Conversation with Marc Typo
“Wellbeing is about capacity”: A Conversation with Emma Gannon
"There’s no one life script for everyone": A conversation with Sari Botton
“Laziness Doesn’t Exist:” A Conversation with KC Davis
"Uncertainty is the gateway to possibility": A Conversation with Jonathan Fields
"Am I truly paying attention to my life?": A Conversation with Nora McInerny
I’m looking forward to seeing these lists expand as the year progresses.
Special Thanks to our Paid Subscribers
As promised, most content on A Year of Mental Health will be completely free. Paid subscribers make this possible.
Even though most posts are freely available at the time of publication, many of you have upgraded your subscriptions—and I am grateful! Thank you. 🙏 🙏 🙏
Whenever someone upgrades, the platform offers subscribers a chance to write a note to the creator, which can be shared with the subscriber’s permission.
Here’s one that I received this week from Julie Shanson
"I really liked the description of “me” at the end of the post. I’m making some changes this year and I know it will be hard. Reading your posts helps me feel less alone in my stuckness or opposition or refusal to categorize myself as lazy."
Again, I want this project to be helpful and valuable to you. We’re just getting started, and there’s much more to come.
Scholarships Available Upon Request
What if you want a paid subscription but can’t afford it? It’s all good, we’ve got you covered! 🤝
Specifically, we now have a scholarship plan where you can pay whatever you can afford. These scholarships are covered by our Founding Members—thank you, Founding Members!
If you’d like one, just send a note to team @ chrisguillebeau .com with the word “Scholarship” in the subject line. We’ll help you get whatever option you need.
On the Horizon
That’s it for now, but I’ll be back Monday at 7am Pacific time. Upcoming topics include: codependency, hyperfocus, and why it’s sometimes hard to do small things.
And maybe a surprise guest or two! Like I said, there’s much more to come. 🎁
Your community notes are one of the richest things on the internet. Thank you for doing this work (and for including me! It's a privilege.)
Happy to be a part of your community, Chris!