💭 5 Notes: Side hustles, spring cleaning, and disconnecting

Welcome to 5 Notes! Today, we're chatting about:

• Today’s affirmation

• Shifts for a productive spring

• An easy side hustle for extra money

• Spring cleaning with Ellie

• How to disconnect on vacation

Today’s Affirmation

“I give myself permission to let go of what’s not serving me.”

5 Shifts for a More Productive Spring

Spring is the perfect time to revamp your routine for increased productivity. Here are five simple tweaks to make the most of the season’s energy.

Start by reflecting on your habits from the past few months. Assess what worked and what didn’t, then make intentional choices about what to carry into spring. Next, choose a guiding word for the season—whether it’s "focus," "balance," or "curiosity"—to keep you aligned with your goals.

Refresh your morning and evening routines to set yourself up for success. Make sure your goals are realistic, considering all factors that might take up your time, like self-care and responsibilities outside of work.

Finally, approach new habits as experiments. Avoid the pressure to be perfect and let your routines evolve naturally. Spring is about renewal, so embrace change and enjoy the process.

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Thank you to American Writers and Artists Institute for sponsoring Note To Self.

Self-Care with Ellie: Night-Time Routine

How to Leave Work Behind on Vacation

It’s easy to let work creep into your vacation, especially when emails and notifications keep popping up. However, it’s important to set clear boundaries to fully recharge and enjoy your time off. Here are some expert-backed tips to help you stop worrying about work while you're on vacation.

Start by pausing all work-related notifications. Most apps, like Slack and Gmail, allow you to mute alerts or schedule "do not disturb" times, which can help you disconnect without feeling the need to check constantly. Another tip: temporarily delete work apps from your phone to remove the temptation to check emails or messages while you're out and about.

If you’re worried about being unreachable, set an automatic out-of-office reply to manage expectations. Let your colleagues know when you’ll return and who they can contact in your absence. Finally, hold yourself accountable. Reflect on the purpose of your vacation, whether it's to relax or reconnect with loved ones, and remind yourself to stay in the moment instead of fixating on work. Your time off is meant for you to unwind and refresh.

Enjoying Note to Self?