Friday

Welcome to Friday! As we cruise into the weekend:

• How to make the most of your weekend

• Why you should make more time for fun

• Staying hydrated throughout the holidays

• Ideas to incorporate more recreation into your week

• Deliciously healthy holiday baking

How to Make the Most of Your Weekend

Between grocery shopping, chores, social events, and all the other things we try to squeeze in on the weekends, it can feel like they’re never long enough.

Finding ways to maximize your weekends can help make them all the more enjoyable — and like the time doesn’t pass so quickly.

Setting a loose plan for the weekend can make it so you don’t feel like both days slip by. This list can include everything from the not-so-fun tasks like cleaning to things you enjoy, like going to the library, getting brunch, or taking your pet for a walk.

With that said, it’s also helpful not to fill every minute of your time. While we all have days where that may be inevitable, having too much on your plate can make it feel like time went by in a blink, and you’ve got the Sunday Scaries.

Step away from work and things that remind you of work. If you have a more analytics-focused job, this may be the time to flex your creativity skills. On the other hand, if you feel like your creative juices run dry on the weekend, you could try some puzzles or strategy games.

Furthermore, breaking up your routine can help the weekends feel more engaging. Even if it’s something small, like making breakfast for dinner, there are lots of ways you can add a little zest to your rest days.

Why You Should Make More Time for Fun

Many of us get so caught up in the daily grind that we put fun on the back burner.

However, recreation is an important self-care element that ensures we don’t burn out! This is a great reason to keep it a priority.

Experts agree that we may view fun as something “extra” and not something that’s a priority.

However, it’s "essential for our happiness and health,” science journalist Catherine Price, author of The Power of Fun said, as reported by NPR.

When we do things we perceive as fun, our bodies release dopamine, the feel-good chemical that benefits so many body functions!

Challenge yourself to find one way to incorporate fun into your day. After all, it’s in the name of self-care!

Hydrate Yourself and Loved Ones This Holiday Season

This holiday season, we’re prioritizing our health and hydration with NativePath Hydrate. Packed with essential amino acids, electrolytes, and nutrients, NativePath Hydrate combats winter dryness, boosts energy, and enhances overall wellbeing—all without the excess sodium or added sugars found in other hydration products.

Whether you're staying active or just aiming to feel your best, NativePath Hydrate supports your daily hydration needs, ensuring you get exactly what your body requires without the risk of overloading. Treat yourself to better and balanced hydration, or give the thoughtful gift of wellness to friends and family.

This holiday season, enjoy up to 44% off, plus free shipping and a free gift with your first purchase—making it the ideal time to stock up for yourself (and others)!

Order today and stay refreshed this holiday season!

Thank you to NativePath for sponsoring Note To Self. 

Ideas to Incorporate More Fun and Recreation Into Your Week

We may fall into the mindset that fun and recreation are reserved for the weekends. However, all 7 days are a perfect opportunity to incorporate things you love!

If you’re looking to add more recreation to your week, here are a few places to start:

• Break up your routine: Try a new recipe for dinner, take the scenic route home, and find ways to keep things interesting!

• Spend some time outside: Nature benefits our minds and bodies in so many ways. Take a walk, sit in the park, or simply look out the window at the beauty of the world!

• Learn something new: Try a class, a workout, or something else. Building a new skill can be challenging, but it also is a great way to challenge ourselves and grow.

• Make time for friends and family: Social self-care is an important area and can help us recharge!

• Make a weekend habit that you look forward to: This can include a weekly dinner with friends, a movie night, or something else!

🎄 Holiday Baking, Made Easy! 🎄

Parting Thoughts

• ✅ Did You Know: Instead of Saturday and Sunday, many countries' weekends fall on Friday and Saturday!

• 🙋🏼‍♀️ 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: While the weekends sometimes don't feel long enough, finding ways to have more fun and make the most of it can make them that much more enjoyable!

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]!