Monday

"I can release control and still feel grounded."

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

• What is a hobby menu?

• How being bilingual helps your brain

• Want to learn a new language? Start here

• The power of self-belief

Why You Need a Hobby Menu

If you’ve ever opened social media out of boredom and somehow lost two hours, you’re not alone. That’s exactly how the hobby menu trend began gaining traction. Think of it as a menu for your free time: instead of scrolling, you “order” an activity that makes you feel good. Think sketching, baking, or finally learning a new language.

Each “course” has a purpose. Appetizers are quick resets (read a few pages, water your plants), entrees take a little more focus (painting, yoga, learning a recipe), and desserts are for pure fun (yes, movie nights still make the list). The goal isn’t productivity, it’s presence: giving yourself more intentional options than your phone.

You can make your menu as creative as you want: handwritten, digital, or color-coded. The point is to have a go-to list of ideas when boredom hits. It’s surprisingly freeing to have structure in spontaneity, a reminder that “doing nothing” can still feel full when you do it with intention.

How Being Bilingual Rewires Your Brain

It turns out learning a language is one of the best workouts your brain can get. Scientists say that picking up a new language strengthens neural pathways, improves focus, and can even delay cognitive decline. It’s not just about vocabulary lists and grammar drills. Every new phrase literally reshapes how your brain connects information and processes the world.

Studies have shown that after just a few months of studying a language, parts of the brain associated with memory and problem-solving actually grow thicker. This increase in “neuroplasticity” helps your brain adapt faster and handle stress better. Think of it like taking a new route home every day. Your brain builds alternate pathways that make you more flexible and resilient.

The benefits go beyond brain health. People who speak more than one language often show stronger empathy and better focus, since they regularly switch between perspectives and communication styles. Whether it’s Spanish, Japanese, or French, the real reward of learning a language isn’t just fluency. It’s about creating a more adaptable, aware, and creative version of yourself.

Learn A New Language At Your Own Pace

A slower season can be the perfect time to start something new. Rosetta Stone is offering lifetime access to all 25 languages for $149—no subscriptions or renewals, just unlimited learning at your own pace.

With the Dynamic Immersion® method and TruAccent® pronunciation technology, lessons feel intuitive, helping users build real-world conversation skills naturally and confidently.

Whether it’s for travel, connection, or the joy of learning, Rosetta Stone makes it easy to keep curiosity in motion.

Get Lifetime Access for $149

Thank you to Rosetta Stone for sponsoring Note To Self. 

Why Faking It Till You Make It Works

A little confidence can go a long way, even when it’s borrowed. Experts say that stepping into an exaggerated version of yourself, sometimes called “playful self-belief,” can actually boost your confidence and change how you act in real life. By imagining the future version of yourself who already feels capable, you nudge your current self closer to becoming that person.

Therapists call this future-self continuity, and it’s part neuroscience, part self-trickery. When you act “as if,” your brain starts building new patterns that make those behaviors more natural over time. It’s why “faking it till you make it” sometimes really does work. Your imagination gets your nervous system on board before fear can talk you out of trying.

Of course, there’s a balance. The goal isn’t to deny reality but to stretch it just enough to see what’s possible. A small dose of delusional confidence can help you speak up in a meeting, send the message, or take the leap. Sometimes, all you need is twenty seconds of bravery to meet the version of yourself who’s already doing the thing.

Wellness Round-Up

A Note From Us

Parting Thoughts

• ✅ True or False: False. It can significantly improve cognitive flexibility and mood at any age.

• 🌅 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 allowed to pick up something new, just because it calls to you. Joy is a good enough reason.

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]!