Monday

This afternoon, we're chatting about:

• Connecting with family at holiday gatherings

• Camera roll full of holiday pictures? Make a book here

Tips for Slowing Down This Holiday Season

The holidays move fast (meals, travel, plans, personalities), but the moments that tend to matter most are the quiet, simple ones. Connection doesn’t require a big gesture; it usually looks like a walk with a parent, helping someone cook, or sitting together without phones. Even a few minutes of genuine attention can shift the whole day. If big gatherings feel overwhelming, try breaking things into smaller moments: step outside with a cousin, sit with a sibling while wrapping gifts, or ask someone what’s been bringing them joy lately.

Think of connection as presence, not perfection. A couple of meaningful conversations are more grounding than trying to be “on” for everyone at once. Ask gentle questions, share a memory, or just listen. The goal isn’t to force closeness. It’s to notice each other in real time, and let that be enough.

How to Feel More Connected to Your Family

Research shows families feel 88% more connected when they look at printed photos. But when most of your meaningful moments stay stored on your phone, they’re easy to forget, buried in a crowded camera roll, or lost completely when you switch devices. It’s a common issue: the memories you want to keep end up scattered, hard to find, or never actually printed.

Chatbooks is designed to help you turn the photos already on your phone into clean, high-quality Classic Photo Books without any extra effort. Upload your photos, choose your size and cover, and Chatbooks does the rest. The process is simple, affordable, and made for real life.

For a limited time, Note To Self readers get 20% off with code REVEL20 and free shipping. Chatbooks also promises to replace your photo books if they get damaged.

Print the moments that matter and give your memories a home you can return to with Chatbooks Classic Photo Books. Perfect for cherishing your memories or gifting friends and family this holiday season.

Thank you to Chatbooks for sponsoring Note To Self. 

Why We Love It

• Connection you can hold: Printed photos help families feel more present and bonded—far more than images tucked away on a phone.

• Memories made simple: Chatbooks turns the photos you already have into beautiful, high-quality books with almost no effort.

• Designed for real life: Affordable, easy to create, and made to last—with free replacements if anything ever gets damaged.

• A home for your moments: Perfect for preserving your own memories or gifting someone you love this holiday season.

Ready to bring your stories to life? Note To Self readers get 20% off plus free shipping with code REVEL20.

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]!