Wednesday

"My inner peace is more important than outside approval."

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

• Ultimate kitchen organization guide

• The truth about carbs

• How to stop the mid-day slump

• Prioritizing family dinners

Tips for Organizing Your Kitchen for Good

If your kitchen is a cluttered mess, it can feel overwhelming to even step in. But organizing your kitchen doesn’t need to be a big task. By breaking it down into simple steps, you can create a space that’s functional and enjoyable to be in.

Start by emptying out all your cabinets and drawers. Decide what items to keep, toss, or donate. This is a great opportunity to purge things that are just taking up space. Once everything is out, take the time to wipe down surfaces and get a fresh start.

Next, define “zones” in your kitchen. Group similar items together based on use, like keeping everyday dishes near the dishwasher and your cooking items near the stove. This small shift can make a big difference in how easily you access what you need.

Finally, get creative! Use wall space for storage, try a hanging rack for pots, or install dividers for baking sheets. Organizing your kitchen can be a fun, small project that keeps everything in order.

The Truth About Carbs and Energy

Carbs can feel confusing. Too much, too little, good vs. bad. But here’s the thing: your body actually needs them. Especially your brain, which uses glucose (a simple carb) as its primary energy source.

There are three main types: sugars (simple), starches (complex), and fiber. While sugar gets all the attention, fiber and starches from whole foods like beans, fruits, and grains tend to be the more helpful kind. They digest more slowly, help you feel fuller, and support gut health.

You don’t need to do math at every meal, but it helps to know where your carbs are coming from. A piece of fruit and a handful of oats offer something different than a sweetened coffee or bag of chips. Same category, different effect.

Choosing better carbs isn’t about restriction—it’s about getting what your body actually needs.

The Meal Planning Service That’s Solving the 3pm Slump

If you’re hitting the 3pm slump, mindlessly snacking, or can’t get rid of bloat, you might be one of the 96% of Americans who aren’t getting the recommended amount of fiber.

The best way to increase your fiber intake? Plants. That’s why thousands of time-crunched professionals are looking to Purple Carrot’s new plant based, high-fiber meal plans that make getting the nutrients you need a no-brainer.

Purple Carrot delivers a rotating weekly menu of meal kits, ready to eat options and groceries straight to your door, each with at least 10 grams of fiber and ready in 25 minutes or less. Whether you only have 30 minutes between your commute and pilates, or need a break from another week of meal planning, Purple Carrot helps keep your nutrition on track without the mental load that comes with it.

This week only, get 50% off your first order with code NOTETOSELF!

See their meal kits, ready to eat options, and groceries here.

Thank you to Purple Carrot for sponsoring Note To Self. 

How to Make Family Dinners Actually Happen

Back-to-school season is a great time to bring back a family dinner routine, but that doesn’t mean it has to look perfect. Between practices, meetings, and weeknight chaos, a little planning goes a long way.

Start with a flexible meal plan. Not just what to eat, but when to eat it. Choose easy nights for slower meals and busy nights for slow cooker recipes or leftovers. One night a week, skip cooking altogether and let everyone raid the fridge or make sandwiches. It still counts.

Instead of aiming for every night, try a “minimum meals” mindset. Pick a realistic number: three, five, maybe just weekends, and stick to that. Whoever’s home, eats together. No guilt if it’s not everyone, every time.

And when time’s tight? Grilled cheese, cereal, salad, and toast. Dinner can be simple. It’s about showing up, not showing off.

A Note From Us

Wellness Round-Up

Parting Thoughts

• ✅ Did You Know: You can get a variety of nutrients by eating different colors of fruits and vegetables.

• 🙋🏼‍♀️ 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: Eating well isn’t about rules, it’s about rhythm. What feels good, what fills you up, and what helps you feel steady matters more than any trend.

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]!