Thursday

"I honor the steady support and care that shapes a life."

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

• Self-care for dads

• Thoughtful Father’s Day plans

• Trending Father’s Day finds

• When Father’s Day feels complicated

Self-Care Looks Good on Dads Too

Father's Day is just about a month away, which makes it a good time to say what doesn't get said often enough: dads need self-care too.

Movement is the most accessible starting point. Even 30 minutes of something you actually enjoy, a walk, a pickup game, a bike ride, releases endorphins and reduces stress in ways that carry through the rest of the day. Mindfulness practices like breathing exercises or meditation have shown real results for emotional regulation, and neither requires much time or equipment to get started.

Hobbies matter more than they get credit for. Picking back up something you used to love, whether that's music, cooking, woodworking, or anything else, gives you an identity outside of the dad role, which is genuinely good for mental health.

The social piece rounds it out. Maintaining friendships and staying connected to community isn't a luxury. It's one of the more protective factors for long-term wellbeing, and modeling that for kids turns out to be its own form of good parenting.

Simple Father’s Day Plans He’ll Actually Love

Father’s Day is a good excuse to plan something that feels personal, relaxed, and actually connected to how he likes to spend his time. The best plans do not need to be complicated. They just need a little thought and enough room for everyone to enjoy the day.

For dads who love being outside, the day can be as simple as fishing, hiking, backyard camping, or heading to a baseball game. These plans work because they leave room for the good stuff: slow conversations, shared snacks, and the kind of stories that show up when nobody is rushing.

Food can make the day feel special too. A backyard grilling night, at-home tasting, or cooking class gives everyone something to gather around without making the celebration feel too formal. For a more nostalgic option, try a movie marathon, a drive through his old neighborhood, or a photo walk somewhere meaningful.

The best Father’s Day plans usually feel like him. A quiet day with no responsibilities can be just as thoughtful as a full itinerary, especially for the dad who rarely asks for anything.

Trending Father’s Day Finds

Father’s Day is a chance to celebrate the dads, grandpas, partners, and father figures who show up in big and small ways. The best gifts are often the ones that fit naturally into his everyday life and remind him he’s appreciated. This year’s Father’s Day Gift Guide brings together practical upgrades, thoughtful finds, and easy ideas to help make your Father’s Day shopping feel a little simpler:

• 🥩 Paleovalley: A better snack for busy days, road trips, golf bags, or weekend projects. Their 100% Grass Fed Beef Sticks are made with grass fed and finished beef, naturally fermented, and deliver 6 grams of protein without preservatives, nitrates, or added sugar. Get 15% off beef sticks.

• 🍳 HexClad: A cookware upgrade for the dad who loves to cook. Their hybrid pans are PFAS-free, dishwasher-safe, and built to handle metal utensils without scratching. For a limited time, get up to 50% off sitewide during HexClad’s Summer Sale.

• ⛳ Bushnell Golf: A smart pick for the dad who loves getting out on the course. Their rangefinders help make distance easier to judge, whether he’s aiming for the flag, checking a hazard, or deciding between clubs. Use code REVEL10 for 10% off.

• 🖼️ LegacyBox: A meaningful way to bring old family memories back to life. LegacyBox helps digitize home movies, photos, film, and recordings so Dad can save, share, and revisit them. For a limited time, use code REVEL65 for 65% off.

• 🥤 Beast Blender: A compact, useful pick for smoother mornings. The Beast® Mighty 850 Plus makes smoothies, protein shakes, and on-the-go drinks easier, with dishwasher-safe parts and a stainless steel option free from BPA, BPS, and PFAS. Use code NOTETOSELF15 for 15% off.

• ☕ Cumulus Coffee: A cold coffee upgrade for the dad who wants café-quality drinks at home. The Cumulus machine makes cold brew, nitro cold brew, and espresso-style drinks in seconds. Right now, get 20% off the machine plus a free 12-pack of coffee capsules.

• 🔥 BBQGuys: A one-stop shop for the dad who loves cooking outside. Their Father’s Day gift guide includes grill accessories, BBQ gift sets, outdoor cooking essentials, and popular brands like Weber, Napoleon, Blackstone, Traeger, and Gozney. Find deals up to 60% off.

Looking for more ideas? Shop our full Father’s Day Gift Guide here.

Thank you to the Father’s Day Gift Guide brands for sponsoring Note To Self. 

When Father’s Day Feels Complicated

Father’s Day can be sweet, but it can also be complicated. For anyone grieving a dad, missing a father figure, or navigating a strained relationship, the holiday may bring up feelings that do not fit neatly into a cheerful card aisle.

It’s okay if the day looks different this year. Some people may want to honor their dad by making his favorite meal, watching a movie he loved, telling one of his old stories, or doing something that keeps his memory close. Others may need distance from the day entirely, and that counts too.

Mixed feelings are also allowed. Love, sadness, anger, relief, longing, and confusion can all show up at once, especially when the relationship was complicated. Letting those feelings exist does not mean you are doing the holiday wrong.

A little planning can make the day easier to move through. Skip social media if it feels heavy, tell loved ones what you might need, or give yourself permission to keep the day quiet. Sometimes self-care is simply not forcing yourself to feel anything on schedule.

Wellness Round-Up

Parting Thoughts

• ✅ Did You Know: Father’s Day became an official U.S. holiday in 1972 when it was signed into law.

• 🌅 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 people who support us often shape us in small, everyday ways. Father figures can leave a mark that lasts far beyond childhood.

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]!