Wednesday

"I’m allowed to do less and feel more."

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

• Tips for a peaceful winter reset

• How to reduce money stress around the holidays

• Overpaying on car insurance? Find out here

• What is an emotional hangover?

An Intentional Reset for the Winter Season

The “Winter Arc” trend often frames the season as a time to overhaul routines, chase new habits, or maximize every hour before the new year. But winter naturally encourages slower rhythms, earlier nights, and more gentle forms of motivation. Instead of chasing reinvention, this season can be a space to recalibrate.

Many people find that limiting end-of-year goals to two or three brings more clarity and less pressure. Smaller ambitions allow progress to feel steady rather than forced, especially during a time filled with holiday travel, gatherings, and emotional weight.

Rest also deserves its own place on the calendar. Scheduling pockets of stillness (an unplugged afternoon, a quiet morning, or a weekend with fewer commitments) can help restore energy that’s been stretched thin all year. Movement can shift, too: flexible routines, shorter sessions, or indoor walking often feel more sustainable than rigid early-morning workouts.

Most importantly, winter offers a chance to prioritize connection and joy. Simple rituals, meaningful conversations, and slow moments help anchor the season, turning it into something supportive rather than demanding.

Easing Money Stress During The Holidays

Holiday spending can feel heavier than usual. Gift expectations and rising costs often combine into one big knot of financial pressure. A gentler, more intentional approach can make the season feel lighter.

The foundation is clarity: setting a simple holiday budget, noting hidden extras like shipping or wrapping, and prioritizing who truly needs to be on the gift list. Starting earlier helps, too. It spreads out spending, avoids last-minute stress, and creates more room for thoughtful choices rather than rushed purchases.

Practical gifting can be surprisingly meaningful: grocery cards, essentials, streaming services, or kitchen tools often feel like genuine relief for someone navigating a tight year. And if budgets are stretched, handmade or “priceless” gifts carry just as much heart: framed photos, baked goods, or creative memory projects.

Through all of it, the reminder stays the same: connection matters more than price tags, and small, intentional gestures can ease both financial strain and emotional stress during the holidays.

Why You Should Cancel Your Car Insurance

You could be wasting hundreds every year on overpriced insurance. The experts at FinanceBuzz believe they can help.

If your rate went up in the last 12 months, check out this new tool from FinanceBuzz to see if you’re overpaying in just a few clicks! They match drivers with companies reporting savings of $600 or more per year when switching!* Plus, once you use it, you’ll always have access to the lowest rates; best yet, it’s free. Answer a few easy questions to see how much you could be saving.

Try the new tool.

Thank you to FinanceBuzz for sponsoring Note To Self. 

What Emotional Hangovers Really Mean

Emotional hangovers often show up after weddings, trips, celebrations, or any experience filled with stimulation and connection. Even joyful events require energy, and the body’s chemistry shifts once the excitement fades. Experts explain that the drop in feel-good chemicals, combined with the sudden end of anticipation, can create a wave of depletion, fogginess, or sadness. People who are highly sensitive, empathetic, or already carrying anxiety may feel the crash more intensely.

Recognizing the pattern makes it easier to support the nervous system. Quiet recovery time before and after an event, steady meals, hydration, and grounding routines like movement or journaling can soften the emotional comedown. Processing emotions instead of pushing them away also helps; feelings tend to move on more quickly when they’re acknowledged rather than avoided.

If an emotional hangover does appear, gentle care makes the biggest difference. Soothing activities, limited stimulation, and honest connection with someone trusted can help the nervous system reset. When the lows linger, showing up as persistent anxiety, withdrawal, or a drop in mood, professional support can offer clarity and tools for navigating these patterns. Emotional hangovers aren’t a sign that anything is wrong; they’re just a reminder that big feelings require spacious, thoughtful recovery.

Wellness Round-Up

A Note From Us

Parting Thoughts

• ✅ Did You Know: Categorizing your spending into just three groups (needs, wants, and goals) simplifies budgeting.

• 🌅 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: Financial wellness isn’t about having it all figured out—it’s about staying curious, asking questions, and learning what works for your life.

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]!