Friday

"I honor my need for calm amid the noise."

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

• Simple habits to feel better this season

• The science behind truly great gifts

• Our favorite gifts to give (and get)

• Why weekly rest is important

Simple Habits To Feel Better This Season

The holidays can be fun and overwhelming at the same time. With plans, sweets, travel, and long to-do lists, it’s easy to feel out of rhythm. A few gentle habits can help you stay grounded without giving up the treats or moments you love.

Choose two or three small rituals that steady you, such as hydration, a morning walk, or a consistent sleep window. These anchors make the season feel easier, not stricter. Adding simple habits like eating veggies early or stepping outside for fresh air can support your mood and energy with almost no effort.

Balancing connection and quiet matters, too. If your schedule is packed, a short break alone can reset your system. If the week feels lonely, plan a small moment of connection.

Most of all, remember that health isn’t only about food or movement. It’s the people you choose, the way you speak to yourself, and the things that fill your mind. A little intention can make this busy season feel a lot lighter.

The Science Behind Truly Great Gifts

Gifting gets overwhelming fast, especially when it feels like everyone already owns everything. But research shows the gifts people remember most aren’t objects, they’re experiences. Concert tickets, a cooking class, a dinner reservation… these spark emotion, and emotion is what strengthens connection.

Studies find that people like material gifts just fine, but experiential gifts make them feel more bonded to the giver. It’s not about sharing the experience together. It’s about the emotions they feel while enjoying it. A great meal, a beautiful performance, even a quiet spa day, creates a moment they’ll revisit long after the holidays end.

If you still want to give something physical, try highlighting the experience within it. A warm sweater becomes “for your winter morning walks.” A coffee mug becomes “for slow, cozy weekends.” You’re giving a feeling, not just a thing.

The holidays already pull everyone in a thousand directions. A gift that creates a real, lasting connection might be the simplest way to make the season feel a little more meaningful.

Our Favorite Gifts to Give (and Get)

If your holiday shopping list is creating unwanted stress, we’ve got you. From cozy favorites to self-care (and even a few pet finds), these gifts are guaranteed wins for everyone on your list:

• 🍳 HexClad – Cookware that lasts a lifetime. It's dishwasher safe, PFAS-free, and nearly indestructible. Through Sunday only, shop HexClad’s Black Friday sale.

• 🐱 Litter-Robot – The self-cleaning litter box that makes having a cat easier. The Litter-Robot 5 automatically scoops after each use, keeps odors away, and even tracks your cat’s health through the app. Explore the Litter-Robot 5.

• 🌿 Mellow Fellow – Help them unwind with pharmacist-formulated CBD blends. Save 20% with code NOTEMF20.

• 🎁 KitNipBox – The Best of Catmas Box brings festive toys and treats straight to your doorstep. Use code DAILYPURRMAS for 25% off.

• 🌎 Rosetta Stone – Give the gift of language with lifetime access to 25+ immersive courses. Get 60% off lifetime access now.

• 🧖‍♀️ Coyuchi – Wrap them in comfort with the 100% organic Waffle Robe—soft, breathable, and sustainably made. See the Waffle Robe.

• 🐾 PetPace – Keep pets healthy and connected with the dog and cat smart collar that tracks vital signs and offers 24/7 on demand telehealth and vet access. Use code DAILYDIG50 for $50 off.

Looking for more inspiration? Shop our full Revel Gift Guide here.

Thank you to our Gift Guide partners for sponsoring Note To Self. 

Why Weekly Rest Is A Real Wellness Tool

Sunday resets often promise a cleaner slate, but they can quietly reinforce the idea that life is something to “catch up on.” Research on long-living communities like Loma Linda, a Blue Zone, shows a different path: one full day each week devoted to rest, connection, and delight. Their routine isn’t about productivity. It’s about creating a sanctuary of time, and it’s linked to notably longer, healthier lives.

A weekly pause shifts more than a schedule. When the body is given permission to slow down, cortisol levels ease, racing thoughts settle, and attention returns to small details that often go unnoticed. Rest becomes a way to regulate stress instead of reacting to it. The result is a week that begins with steadiness rather than depletion.

What counts as “rest” looks different for everyone. Some people recharge through light movement or creative hobbies; others find restoration in quiet solitude or time with loved ones. The common thread is intention: choosing activities that genuinely refill energy instead of tasks that mimic productivity. A dedicated rest day isn’t about doing less. It’s about feeling more grounded in the days that follow.

Wellness Round-Up

A Note From Us

Parting Thoughts

• ✅ True or False: True. Shifts in weather and routine often stir old memories.

• 🌅 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: The holidays don’t have to feel perfect to be meaningful. Small moments, quiet pauses, and simple joys still count.

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]!