Tuesday

"I trust myself to know when to rest."

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

• Is sleep inertia the issue?

• Still feeling tired in the morning? Try this

• Stop decisions from ruining your day

• Your fall schedule reset

What Is Sleep Inertia?

That heavy, sluggish feeling right after waking up? It’s called sleep inertia, and it’s your brain’s way of slowly switching gears from sleep to wakefulness. For most people, it lasts 15–30 minutes, though it can linger if you wake in the middle of deep sleep.

You can make mornings easier with a few tweaks. Natural light is one of the best cues for your body clock, so open your curtains or step outside. A short nap, 10 to 20 minutes, can help later in the day, and caffeine works too, if you time it for the morning.

If sleep inertia feels constant, the problem may start the night before. Keeping a steady bedtime, skipping late-night caffeine or alcohol, and using calming aids like sleep gummies can help you fall into deeper, more restorative sleep, making it easier to wake up clear-headed.

With a little planning, the start of the day doesn’t have to feel so heavy.

Start the Day Without Exhaustion

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See how these gummies can give you uninterrupted sleep.

Thank you to Slumber for sponsoring Note To Self. 

Stop Letting Tiny Decisions Run Your Day

You make thousands of decisions every day, most without even realizing it. What to wear, when to reply, what to eat: all these small choices stack up and slowly chip away at your mental energy. By the time you hit mid-morning, you may already feel scattered, tired, or less patient than you’d like.

This quiet drain is called decision fatigue, and it explains why simple choices can feel overwhelming after a long day. The good news? You can get ahead of it by pre-deciding the basics. Lay out tomorrow’s outfit before bed, prep a week of lunches, or set a morning “no-text zone” so your brain isn’t juggling notifications right away.

Each small decision you skip frees up space for the ones that actually matter. Think of it like giving your brain a little breathing room. You’re setting yourself up to focus more clearly, feel less frazzled, and save energy for the parts of your day that deserve your full attention.

Five Ways to Refresh Your Fall Schedule

Summer’s loose schedules are fun, but fall tends to hit harder. Packed calendars, shorter days, and end-of-year deadlines. Instead of pushing through on autopilot, small shifts in routine can help make this season less draining and more productive.

One place to start is with your mornings. Try “reverse engineering” your wake-up time based on what you need and want to do before work. If exercise, breakfast, or reading is on your list, work backward to give yourself enough space for them without rushing.

It also helps to align your routine with your natural energy patterns. If you’re more alert in the morning, block that time for focused tasks. If afternoons are better for movement, shift workouts there. Even moving meetings later during the week of daylight saving time can make a big difference.

Finally, consider quarterly planning. Instead of thinking about the entire year, reset your goals for the next three months. A smaller window keeps priorities realistic and routines easier to stick to as the season shifts.

A Note From Us

Wellness Round-Up

Parting Thoughts

• ✅ Did You Know: The average adult makes over 30,000 decisions per day.

• 🙋🏼‍♀️ Snapshot Of The Day: We'd love to see moments from our readers’ lives that they are proud of! If you recently accomplished an achievement, experienced a joyful moment, or are proud of a picture you have taken, be sure to capture it on camera and send it to us for a chance to be featured next week! 

• 💭 Final Self-Care Thoughts for Today: Clarity returns when you slow down. A quiet moment, a nourishing meal, or even stepping away from your to-do list can reset your focus.

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]!