Monday

"I say no without building a case for it."

Welcome to a new week! Today, we're chatting about:

• Why people are tying “rejection therapy”

• What is yerba mate?

• This new tea is replacing coffee

• How much brain fog is normal

• This cookware is trusted by professional chefs

The Surprising Science Behind "Rejection Therapy"

If your feed has shown you someone asking a stranger for a free muffin or a spontaneous matching tattoo, that's "rejection therapy," a trend built on a well-established idea in psychology: exposure therapy.

Here's how it works. Deliberately putting yourself in a situation where you might hear "no" teaches your nervous system that rejection isn't actually dangerous. Most of the time, nothing bad happens, just a little awkwardness that passes quickly. Sometimes, the answer is even "yes."

Experts recommend starting small. Rather than jumping straight to something big and scary, like asking for a promotion, a smaller version of that same ask, like requesting feedback first, can build confidence along the way. That small brave step tends to make the bigger one feel a lot more doable.

The goal isn't to stop feeling anything when rejection happens. It's to change what a "no" means to you. Over time, that sting tends to shift from feeling devastating to just mildly disappointing, the kind of thing that's a lot easier to shake off and move past.

What Is Yerba Mate?

Yerba mate is a caffeinated tea made from the leaves and stems of the yerba mate plant, traditionally brewed in a hollowed-out gourd with hot water and sipped through a metal straw with a built-in filter. Unlike coffee, the same batch of leaves can be steeped again and again throughout the day, simply topping off with more hot water until the flavor fades.

It comes in plenty of forms depending on where you are. There's terere, made with cold water, herbs, and fruit. There's mate batido, a chilled, roasted version with lime and sugar. And there's mate cocido, a quicker tea-bag version often served with a splash of milk, similar to a latte.

Beyond the caffeine boost, certain blends are used for different purposes, some mixed with herbs to ease indigestion, others geared toward relaxation or athletic performance. And because it's meant to be sipped slowly over time rather than downed all at once, it tends to feel like a gentler, more sustained lift than a quick coffee jolt.

This New Tea Is Replacing Coffee

Most of us know the feeling: energy that's high in the morning, gone by mid-afternoon, and hard to get back without reaching for more caffeine or sugar. It's a cycle that leaves you wired at the wrong times and drained at the worst ones.

Yerba Magic was created to fix that. At its core is yerba mate, a plant-based tea known for smooth, steady energy. Unlike coffee, it delivers that energy without the crash, plus natural antioxidants along the way.

Yerba Magic blends it with additional ingredients for focus and gut health, so you get more than just a caffeine boost in every scoop. Just mix one scoop with water each morning, and you're ready to go in seconds.

Here's what makes it worth trying:

• Smooth, crash-free energy: 100mg of natural caffeine paired with L-theanine for focus without the jitters.

• Supports mental clarity: Lion's Mane mushroom is included to help support cognitive performance.

• Gut health built in: Prebiotics and probiotics support digestion, something coffee and energy drinks don't offer.

• Low sugar, low calorie: Just 2g of sugar and 40 calories per serving.

• Genuinely tastes good: Available in multiple flavors, so it feels like a treat.

• Ready in seconds: Simply mix one scoop with water, no brewing required.

As a Note To Self reader, you can now save $10 on your order, plus enjoy free shipping.

Curious what steadier, all-day energy could feel like? Try Yerba Magic today.

Thank you to Yerba Magic for sponsoring Note To Self. 

What Is and Isn’t Normal Brain Fog

Forgetting a name, walking into a room and blanking on why, losing a train of thought mid-sentence. These moments get more common after 50, and the good news is that most of the time, they're completely normal. Occasional brain fog is usually tied to things like poor sleep, stress, or a busy schedule, and tends to pass on its own.

The real thing to watch for is whether it starts affecting daily independence. Getting lost in familiar places, repeating the same questions, or struggling to follow simple instructions are worth mentioning to a doctor, especially if they show up alongside sudden confusion, behavioral changes, or unexplained symptoms like fever or weight loss.

It's also worth knowing that brain fog isn't always about memory at all. Things like sleep apnea, thyroid issues, vitamin deficiencies, and hormonal shifts like menopause can all play a role too.

The takeaway is a reassuring one: a little forgetfulness now and then is a normal part of getting older. But if something feels persistent or off, bringing it up early is always a smart move.

The Cookware Behind 100+ Michelin-Starred Kitchens, Now in Brushed Copper

You've probably seen Made In Cookware® by now. They're the cookware brand used in 4,000+ professional kitchens and adopted by millions of home cooks. 

Their 5-ply Stainless Clad line is what put them on the map, and now it comes in a limited-run Brushed Copper finish.

Shop Copper Collection

Wellness Round-Up

Parting Thoughts

• ✅ Did You Know: Yerba mate contains a stimulant compound nearly identical to caffeine called mateine, though many researchers consider it essentially the same molecule with a name unique to the plant's cultural history.

• 🌅 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: Some days your mind just feels slower, and that's not a failure. It's worth listening to instead of pushing through.

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]!