Monday

"I release the need to rush through this moment."

Welcome to Monday! Today, we're chatting about:

• A heart-healthy food duo

• Learning to trust yourself

• The tax deadline is almost here

• A guide to vitamin C skincare

• What happens when cravings quiet down?

The Delicious Duo That's Good for Your Heart

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States, and what you eat plays a meaningful role in prevention. A recent study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that one specific food pairing made a measurable difference in cardiovascular markers: mango and avocado.

Participants who ate one avocado and one cup of mango daily for eight weeks showed improvements in how their blood vessels expanded and contracted, along with better diastolic blood pressure readings. The two foods work well together because their nutritional profiles are genuinely complementary. Avocado brings healthy fats and fiber while mango adds vitamin C and antioxidants, and the fats in avocado actually help your body absorb more of the nutrients in the mango.

The combination is easier to work into your routine than it sounds. A mango avocado salsa over chicken or tofu, a tropical smoothie bowl, or avocado toast topped with fresh mango slices all count. Even eating just one of the two regularly still offers real benefits on its own.

The Quiet Work of Learning to Trust Yourself

Self-trust isn't just about following through on everything you start. It's also about knowing when to stop, and not letting either one define your worth. That distinction is harder to hold onto than it sounds.

A lot of self-trust gets built in small, unglamorous moments: meeting your basic needs without conditions, spending enough time alone to remember what you actually value, and being honest about what kind of support your brain needs. Whether that's an accountability buddy, a wall of sticky notes, or just permission to change systems when the current one stops working.

Start with the smallest possible commitments. Tell yourself you'll do one thing and then do it. That's how self-trust gets rebuilt after a long stretch of not having it. And if you stop something you started? That's not a failure. Stopping when something no longer serves you is a form of self-knowledge, which is exactly what self-trust is built on.

File with Cash App Taxes

Now that tax season is here, there's no better time to file with Cash App Taxes. It's fast, 100% free, and it only takes a few minutes. Cash App Taxes is a completely free way to file your federal and state taxes-and get your refund*.

File with Cash App Taxes.

*Learn about Max Refund Guarantee details and eligibility. **Learn about Accurate Calculations Guarantee details and eligibility. Exclusions apply. ***5-day refund estimate is based on filing data from tax year 2024. Refund windows are subject to change for 2025. We do not guarantee when you will receive your refund. Timing estimates are dependent on the timing of your submission of a complete return and when the IRS submits your refund. Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App's bank partner(s). Tax Filing Preparation services are provided by Cash App Taxes, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Thank you to Cash App for sponsoring Note To Self. 

The Vitamin C Skincare Guide

Vitamin C is one of the most talked about skincare ingredients and one of the most misunderstood. The basics are worth knowing: your skin needs vitamin C to produce collagen. No vitamin C, no collagen. That's not marketing, it's biology.

The form matters though. Ascorbic acid is the gold standard and works well for most skin types, ideally stabilized with vitamin E and ferulic acid and used under sunscreen in the morning. If your skin is sensitive or reactive, a vitamin C derivative is a gentler option that still delivers real results without the irritation risk. Either way, avoid powder forms of ascorbic acid entirely since applying them directly can cause serious irritation.

Pairing vitamin C with retinol is one of the more powerful combinations you can build into a routine. Vitamin C in the morning for antioxidant protection, retinol at night for cell turnover and collagen signaling. Together they support epidermal thickening over time, which is one of the more exciting areas of current research for long term skin health.

Tirzepatide Beats Ozempic for Weight Loss From $149

Emily says the biggest surprise wasn’t the scale.

Within weeks of starting Tirzepatide, she stopped constantly thinking about food. Smaller meals felt satisfying, late-night snacking faded, and her workout energy improved.

The weight loss, she says, was just a bonus.

I'M READY, LET'S GO

Wellness Round-Up

Parting Thoughts

• ✅ True or False: True. They’re often frozen at peak ripeness.

• 🌅 Sunset Of The Day: Sunsets are more than beautiful—they’re actually good for your mood. Got a favorite one? Reply to this email with your best sunset or sunrise photo for a chance to be featured!

• 💭 Final Self-Care Thoughts for Today: Eating healthy doesn’t have to be extreme. It can be simple, steady, and built around what actually makes you feel good.

Enjoying Note to Self?

Know of a great self-care tip or article you'd love to share with the community? Want to send us pictures of you completing one of your self-care rituals? Email us at [email protected]!