Wednesday

"Stillness helps me hear what I’ve been ignoring."

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

• How midlife can become a fresh start

• Why scams increase around the holidays

• Tired of wasting time shaving? Try this

• A Thanksgiving food safety tip

• Reach your fitness goals with this treadmill

How Midlife Can Become A Fresh Start

Midlife has a reputation for feeling heavy, but for many people it’s far more gentle than that. It’s the moment you look around at a life you’ve built (family, routines, a career) and realize you’re ready to expand a little. Not because anything is wrong, but because you’ve grown, and you want your life to grow with you.

Sometimes it starts with a simple thought: What if there’s more joy waiting for me? From there, change becomes a series of small, doable choices. Making space for creativity again. Reworking your schedule so you have more time with the people you love. Trying something new just because it feels fun. Midlife becomes less about “starting over” and more about coming home to yourself.

And the surprising part? Letting go of the idea of “having it all” often makes everything feel lighter. You start noticing what actually matters. Not the perfect schedule or life, but the moments where you feel connected, inspired, and fully present.

Midlife isn’t a crisis. It’s a reset button. A reminder that you’re allowed to grow, shift, and build a life that fits who you are now, not who you were years ago.

Your Holiday Guide To Avoiding Scammers

The holiday season brings cozy nights, gift lists, and, unfortunately, a spike in online scams. With more deliveries, more shopping, and more “flash sales,” it’s easier than ever to click without thinking. And younger adults aren’t immune. Confidence with technology can make it even easier to trust a text or a too-good-to-be-true deal.

Experts say the biggest red flags right now are fake delivery alerts, copied shopping sites, and gift-card “offers” that lead straight to phishing pages. Scammers rely on speed and urgency, hoping you’ll react before you pause long enough to notice something’s off.

A few small habits go a long way. Turning on two-factor authentication can stop someone from getting into your accounts, even if they have your password. Regular account alerts can help you catch unusual charges quickly. And typing in a retailer’s website manually, rather than clicking a link, removes a lot of risk without adding extra work.

If something does slip through, act fast: contact your bank using the number on your card, change any affected passwords, and document everything. Staying safe doesn’t require paranoia, just a little more intentionality. Think of it as giving yourself a calmer, more protected holiday season.

Your Low-Maintenance Routine, Now 75% Off

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Thank you to LaserAway for sponsoring Note To Self. 

Keep Your Holiday Food Safe with This Tip

Before the holiday cooking marathon starts, food-safety experts say one tiny step makes a big difference: check your fridge temperature. A crowded fridge warms up faster than most of us think, especially when the door keeps opening for ingredients, leftovers, and “just one more peek.”

Anything above 40°F puts food in the bacteria-friendly zone, and overloaded shelves can block airflow enough to create warm spots you’d never notice. A simple thermometer on the middle shelf can tell you where things stand. Most experts recommend staying at or below 40°F, though some chefs like aiming closer to 36°F for extra wiggle room.

If things feel even slightly warm, quick fixes help: clear space around vents, pull out nonessentials, and let the fridge run with the door closed for an hour. It’s a small check that keeps ingredients safer and holiday cooking a lot less stressful.

Finally, a Treadmill You'll Actually Stick With

Wellness Round-Up

Parting Thoughts

• ✅ Did You Know: Brain studies show increased emotion regulation in midlife.

• 🌅 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: You’re not running out of time—you’re running into the season where your happiness gets to be more honest.

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]!