Thursday

"I'm exactly where I need to be for today."

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

• Why it’s so hard to wake up right now

• Fall and winter food cravings

• How to actually see if your routine is working

• Beauty packaging is having a glow-up

• Where to find your morning news

Why It's So Hard to Wake Up Early This Time of Year

If getting out of bed feels harder once the days get shorter, it's not just in your head. Shorter days mean less morning light, and staying warm in colder temperatures actually takes more energy for your body, both of which naturally push you toward wanting more sleep this time of year.

Morning light is one of the biggest factors in resetting your internal clock. Getting bright light first thing, whether from sunlight or a dedicated light source, signals to your brain that the day has started. At night, the opposite matters too. Blue light from phones, laptops, and TVs can delay your body's natural sleep signals, making mornings feel even harder. What and when you eat plays a role as well, so it helps to skip caffeine and heavy meals in the hours before bed.

Small tricks can also make a real difference. Keeping your phone in another room forces you to physically get out of bed to turn off your alarm, which is often the hardest part of the whole process.

Above all, consistency matters most. Going to bed and waking up around the same time each day, even on weekends, helps stabilize your body's rhythm and makes early mornings feel a little less brutal as the days get shorter.

The Science Behind Your Fall and Winter Food Cravings

If you find yourself craving soup, stews, and other warm, hearty meals once the weather turns, there's real science behind it. Staying warm in cold temperatures takes extra energy, and your body naturally responds by wanting more fuel to keep up.

Part of this comes down to how your body generates heat. In cold weather, your metabolism ramps up and your body taps into brown fat, a special type of fat that converts calories directly into warmth. Digestion itself also produces heat, so eating more frequently becomes another way your body naturally stays warm. Carb-heavy meals are especially good at meeting this need, since they provide quick energy and create more heat during digestion than lighter meals do.

Shorter, darker days play a role too. Less sunlight can lower serotonin levels, the mood-regulating chemical your body partly produces in response to light. Since serotonin also helps curb appetite, a dip in sunlight can naturally nudge your hunger levels up. Carbs happen to boost serotonin as well, which may explain why cravings for pasta, bread, and other comforting foods feel so strong this time of year.

So the next time you're reaching for a warm bowl of soup on a cold day, know that your body isn't just seeking comfort. It's doing exactly what it's designed to do.

Stop Guessing What Your Routine Is Doing To Your Body. See What’s Changing.

Your body is changing all the time. The question is whether you can see it. Hume Body Pod 2.0 uses eight hand and foot sensors to read your arms, legs and trunk separately, so your effort gets a clearer picture and not just more discipline. Each 3D body scan updates your Digital Twin, a living model of you that changes as you do. It's how "I hope this is working" becomes "I can see what's changing."

Pod 2.0 is $249 for a limited time, HSA/FSA eligible, with 45 days to try it at home. Plus, get an extra 10% off with code LAUNCH10.

Learn More

Thank you to Hume Health for sponsoring Note To Self. 

Why Beauty Packaging Is Getting a Major Glow-Up

With so many skincare and makeup products crowding store shelves, brands are finding a new way to stand out: the packaging itself. Instead of just focusing on ingredients, companies are getting creative with how products look, feel, and function.

Some of the most talked-about innovations lately include eye masks designed to be sliced apart as you use them, precision applicators that dispense the exact right amount of product, and built-in tools like tiny rollers or spatulas that eliminate the need for separate accessories. Many of these ideas first gained popularity in Korean beauty brands before spreading more widely, proving that a clever design detail can be just as exciting as a new formula.

Sustainability has become part of the conversation too. Some companies are now using fully compostable packaging made from plant-based materials, letting customers toss empty containers straight into a home compost bin once they're done.

Of course, good packaging still needs good products behind it. A beautifully designed container is a nice bonus, but it's no substitute for a formula that actually works. The best products manage to deliver both.

News without the Noise

Wellness Round-Up

Parting Thoughts

• ✅ Did You Know: Cravings for carbohydrate rich foods tend to increase in winter partly due to their connection to the brain chemical serotonin, since carbohydrates can temporarily boost serotonin production, which may explain why comfort foods feel especially appealing during colder, darker months.

• 🌅 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: Change doesn't have to happen all at once. Most of the time it's just a series of small shifts adding up.

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]!