Thursday

It’s Thursday! Today, we're taking a look at:

• A simple 1-minute cleaning rule to keep your home tidy

• Is it time to replace your pillows and mattress?

• How to find news with just the facts

• The benefits of adding more color to your home

A Simple 1-Minute Cleaning Rule to Keep Your Home Tidy

As we go about our days, we may notice a list of cleaning tasks that need to be done — from the dishes to laundry to simply wiping crumbs off the counter.

It’s natural to put some of these tasks off, especially if you’ve got a busy day. But once you start putting off a lot of seemingly small tasks, they can add up to feel like there’s an overwhelming mess.

However, one simple rule can help you stay on top of messes a lot better: The 1-minute cleaning rule.

With this, any task that would take 60 seconds or less to complete gets done right away — not in a day, an hour, or whenever you remember it next.

This not only helps you get in the habit of staying tidy as you notice small things, but it also helps prevent lots of little tasks from adding up into an hour-long cleaning session.

Then, when you do have more time, you can dedicate it to those more time-intensive tasks.

A few tasks on our 1-minute cleaning list to tidy right away include:

• Any spills, crumbs, or messes

• Tossing out trash

• Loading dishes in the dishwasher as they’re used

• Putting dirty clothes in the hamper

• Cleaning loose hair out of the shower

• Starting a load of laundry after you spill something to avoid stains

These simple tasks take virtually no time but make a big impact on keeping our spaces more welcoming!

Is It Time To Replace Your Pillow and Mattress?

Our beds are our sanctuaries. With roughly a third of our days (and our lives) spent in bed, it’s important that we keep them comfortable.

And while we often think of changing or replacing sheets as they get worn, we may not consider how long we’ve been using our pillows or mattresses.

As we sleep, dead skin cells, oils, sweat, and dust can all make their way into our pillows and mattresses (yes, even with pillowcases and sheets). Not to mention, with around 8 hours of daily use, these items see some significant wear over time.

With all these factors, experts say we may want to replace some of these items more often than we’d guess — and it can depend on a few factors:

• Time: This will vary based on how you sleep and care for your pillows and mattress, however, experts say the average lifetime for pillows is 1-2 years, while that of a mattress is 7-10 years.

• Shape and support: If you notice your pillow doesn’t support your head the way you need it to, or your mattress doesn’t have a shape that’s comfortable to sleep on, it might be time to replace it.

Don’t panic if you’ve been using the same pillows or mattress for far longer. However, for optimum sleep comfort and hygiene, it might be a good idea to start shopping around.

Caring for your pillows (like throwing them in the wash), changing your sheets regularly, and using protectors can all help extend the life of your sleep sanctuary.

News. Without Motives.

Sick of Biased Political News? Us Too. As we enter an election year, it’s more important than ever to get your news from an unbiased source. Unfortunately, getting the facts (and nothing but the facts) is harder than it seems… Unless, of course, you’re one of the 3.5 million Americans who subscribes to 1440. 1440’s daily newsletter contains no biased opinions, no wild speculation, and no-nonsense – just pure, unadulterated info to help keep you up to date with everything happening in the world, from politics to business, sports, culture, and beyond. Each email is edited to be as unbiased as humanly possible and is triple-checked (by hand!) to ensure that you’re getting the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. For those keeping score at home, that’s one big win for knowledge. If you’re looking for a better, smarter way to start your day, sign up for 1440’s daily newsletter and start getting unbiased news on politics, business, sports, science, and beyond.

Thank you to 1440 for sponsoring Note To Self. 

The Benefits of Adding More Color To Your Home

Adding color to your home isn’t simply a way to brighten it up — it can have some real benefits!

While neutral tones like white and brown can invoke comfort and calmness, other colors can have positive impacts.

According to color psychology, various colors can have different impacts on our moods. For example, orange can help boost confidence, yellow is associated with happiness, and green promotes calm.

If you want your space to make you feel a specific way, consider using a little color psychology to invoke certain emotions and set the mood!

Using color psychology in your space doesn’t mean you need to paint all the walls purple to inspire imagination. Rather, look for ways you can add thoughtful pops of color.

• Plants: This is a great way to incorporate greenery and other vibrant hues.

• Pillows and curtains: These not only add color but can add some texture to keep your space interesting.

• Art: In addition to incorporating different hues to boost your mood, this is also a great way to explore your interests and show your personality in your home.

Adding color into your space — even in small amounts — is a mindful way to practice environmental self-care!

Parting Thoughts

• ✅ Did You Know: Pollutants inside our homes may be 2 to 5 times higher than they are outdoors.

• 🙋🏼‍♀️ 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: Explore different ways you can practice environmental self-care — whether it's cleaning, a decor refresh, or simply being in the outdoors!

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]!