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Monday

"I’m allowed to enjoy simple comforts fully."

It’s a new week! Today, we're chatting about:

• The importance of a good sleep routine

• How to get back into exercising

• Feeling unmotivated? Try this

• Using yoga to help reduce stress

• Add this to your skincare ritual for a new year glow

Why Your Sleep Routine Matters More Than You Think

Sleep hygiene isn’t about perfection or rigid rules. It refers to the everyday habits and environment that support consistent, restorative sleep, often without requiring more time in bed.

Things like irregular sleep schedules, late-night screen use, caffeine too close to bedtime, or using your bed for work can quietly interfere with sleep quality. Over time, these patterns can make it harder for your body to associate bed with rest, even if you’re exhausted.

Good sleep hygiene focuses on consistency and cues. Going to bed and waking up at similar times, keeping your bedroom cool and dark, and reserving your bed for sleep help your brain recognize when it’s time to wind down. Gentle evening routines (like reading, stretching, or dimming lights) also support this transition.

The most effective changes tend to be small. Adjusting one habit at a time, like turning screens off earlier or swapping evening caffeine for something calming, is often more sustainable than overhauling everything at once. Over time, these subtle shifts can add up to deeper rest and steadier energy during the day.

How to Ease Back Into Exercise

Getting back into exercise after a break doesn’t require motivation overload or a full routine reset. Pauses happen for many reasons, and they don’t erase progress; they simply change the starting point.

The most sustainable re-entry begins small. Two short workouts a week, gentle bodyweight movements, or even daily walks can help rebuild consistency without overwhelming the body. Planning just a few weeks at a time, and treating workouts like real appointments, can make returning feel more manageable.

Rest matters as much as movement. Scheduling recovery days, prioritizing sleep, and warming up properly reduce injury risk and help the body adapt. Fatigue early on is normal, and listening to it often supports longer-term momentum.

Most importantly, redefine what “counts” as exercise. Movement that feels enjoyable like dancing, stretching, or walking, still supports physical and mental health. Routines tend to stick when they feel supportive, not punishing. Starting gently is often what makes showing up possible again.

How to Stick to Your Fitness Goals This Year

Did you know 80% of people who start the New Year at the gym stop going? A lot of people start the year feeling motivated to get active, then slowly fall off. Crowded gyms can feel overwhelming, it’s hard to know what to do, and without someone keeping you accountable, it’s easy to give up. Personal training can help, but it isn't always accessible. That’s why so many New Year's fitness goals don’t last.

That’s where Future wants to help you. Future is remote and affordable personal training on your phone. You choose a coach who fits your style with 1:1 expert support, step-by-step video guidance, and a way to track your progress. This helps you know what to do while always having someone cheer you on. You can also do your workouts whenever and wherever you want.

We think this one’s great for our Note To Self community, especially if you’re feeling inspired to stay active in the New Year. As a Note To Self reader, you can get your first month free with code NOTE100. It’s zero-risk, with the option to cancel anytime within your first 30 days for a full refund.

Start the year with remote personal training that helps you stay active and motivated to achieve your goals.

Thank you to Future for sponsoring Note To Self. 

Using Yoga to Gently Lower Stress

Yoga can be a useful tool for stress relief, not because it fixes anything, but because it helps the body slow down. Gentle movement, steady breathing, and moments of stillness signal the nervous system that it’s safe to relax, even when the mind feels busy.

Research suggests yoga may help lower stress hormones, support mood, and improve sleep when practiced consistently. Breathing exercises and slow, grounding poses appear especially helpful, as they encourage the body to shift out of fight-or-flight and into a calmer state.

Using yoga for stress doesn’t require a long class or advanced poses. A few minutes of mindful breathing, a supported stretch, or lying still with your legs elevated can be enough to create a noticeable sense of ease. Practices like yoga nidra or short meditations can also help when movement feels like too much.

The most effective yoga practice is often the one that feels accessible. Approaching yoga as a way to listen inward can make it easier to return to yourself during stressful moments.

The New Year Ritual That Sets the Tone for Energy and Glow ✨

January calls for rituals that actually make you feel amazing—and Pique’s Sun Goddess Matcha is mine. It delivers clean, focused energy with zero jitters, supports glowing skin and gentle detox, and feels deeply grounding. Smooth, ceremonial-grade, and crave-worthy, it’s the easiest way to start your day clear, energized, and glowing from the inside out.

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Parting Thoughts

• ✅ Did You Know: Exercising outdoors can feel around 20% easier than the same workout indoors. Scenery reduces perceived effort.

• 🌅 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 don’t have to start where you left off. You just have to start. Your strength will come back—with time, patience, and care.

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]!