Monday

"My mind and body are deeply connected and work together in harmony."

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

• How can stress affect your whole body?

• Exploring the mind-gut connection

• How to build good nutrition habits that actually last

• Simple habits to improve your mind-body connection

• An easy way to save money

Why Stress Affects More Than Your Mood

The mind and body are closely linked in ways science continues to explore. Our thoughts, emotions, and stress levels influence physical health, and the body’s state affects mental well-being. For example, chronic stress triggers cortisol release, which can weaken immune function and increase health risks.

Historically, this idea goes back thousands of years from ancient Chinese medicine’s concept of balancing energy to Western thinkers like Aristotle and Freud. Today, research confirms that mental health practices like mindfulness and meditation can improve immune response and reduce anxiety.

Stress activates the body’s fight-or-flight system, helping in short bursts but causing harm when constant. Physical symptoms like headaches or fatigue often reflect mental strain, showing how the two connect.

Many healing methods, including yoga therapy and acupuncture, focus on restoring mind-body balance. Recognizing how your mental state affects your body can guide better self-care and overall wellness.

What Your Gut Is Telling Your Brain

Stress doesn’t just affect your mood—it can change your gut in real ways. Chronic stress triggers hormones that disrupt digestion and alter gut microbes, letting harmful substances inflame your body. This can lead to digestive issues, food sensitivities, and sometimes mood problems.

Emeran Mayer, a gastroenterologist and neuroscientist, explains that the brain and gut communicate constantly. So, mental stress can remodel your gut cells and reduce the benefits of a healthy diet.

To support the mind-gut balance, find practices that promote relaxation and reduce inflammation, such as breathing exercises and a balanced diet. Breathing techniques and meditation are simple, accessible ways to improve both mental and physical health.

Taking care of your gut means caring for your mind too. It’s a two-way street worth paying attention to.

End the Cycle of Dieting—Noom Helps You Build Lasting Habits!

Tired of quick fixes that don’t work? Noom offers a proven, psychology-backed approach that helps you lose weight for good. With personalized coaching, daily support, and habit-building tools, Noom empowers you to make healthier choices and build lasting habits. Noom’s program isn’t about restrictive diets—it’s about understanding your behavior and changing your habits. By combining psychology with technology and expert coaching, Noom helps you make smarter choices, stay motivated, and see real results.

What You Get with Noom:

• Personalized Plan tailored to your goals

• Coaching & Support to keep you motivated

• Food Logging with 1M+ items to track your progress

• Healthy Recipes to make eating well easy

• Interactive Lessons to teach you about weight loss, mindful eating, and more

• Activity & Health Tracking with device syncing

• Community Support from others on the same journey

• Maintenance Mode for maintaining your goal weight

Ready for lasting change? Take our 5-minute quiz to get your personalized plan and start your journey toward sustainable weight loss.

Take the Quiz and Unlock your free 14-day trial.

Based on a sample of 4,602 Noomers.

Thank you to Noom for sponsoring Note To Self. 

Simple Practices That Build Mind-Body Connection

Strengthening your mind-body connection starts with simple, consistent habits. Mindfulness—whether through eating, walking, or a quick body scan—helps you stay present and aware.

Breathwork calms your nervous system; even basic diaphragmatic breathing can refresh your mind and body. Visualization lets your body relax by imagining peaceful places.

Progressive muscle relaxation eases tension by tensing and releasing muscles, while meditation supports emotional balance and self-compassion. Gentle movement like yoga or tai chi combines breath and motion to reduce stress. Even everyday exercise can deepen this connection when done with focus.

Together, these practices create a natural flow that nurtures your whole self and builds your mind-body connection.

A Home Warranty Plan Could Save You Thousands In Repairs

Wellness Round-Up

Parting Thoughts

• ✅ Did You Know: Laughter can improve circulation and relax muscles for up to 45 minutes.

• 🙋🏼‍♀️ 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: However you're feeling today—stressed, still, energized, or anything in between—your body is listening. And sometimes, tuning in is the first step toward feeling better.

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]!