Monday

"I am safe to slow down."

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

• The world is embracing more mess

• Why cold weather can change your sleep

• Is your pillow causing you pain?

• The case for stretching before bed

• How to make money with AI

The World Is Embracing a Little More Mess

Good news for anyone who's given up on Pinterest-perfect countertops: a new IKEA survey of more than 30,000 people worldwide found that minimalism is losing its grip. Most respondents said they actually prefer a lived-in home over a sparse one.

Clutter, it turns out, often carries real meaning. Most people hold onto sentimental items, from old gifts to keepsakes from past relationships, and Gen Z is especially likely to keep those items out in the open rather than tucked away. The junk drawer is universal, too, showing up in most homes surveyed, regardless of country.

People around the globe have found clever ways to work around the mess instead of fighting it. Storage baskets are popular in Finland, old suitcases double as storage in the UK, and in South Korea, some people even use their oven for extra space.

So the next time your junk drawer won't close all the way, take comfort: you're in very good, very messy company.

Why You Dream More in the Colder Months

Ever notice your dreams get more vivid once the weather turns cold? You're not imagining it. A recent study found that REM sleep, the stage most linked to dreaming, increases by about 30 minutes in winter compared to summer.

Shorter days play a big role. Less sunlight means your body produces more melatonin, which can lead to deeper sleep and longer REM cycles. That extra REM time often means dreams that feel more vivid and memorable than usual.

A few small habits can help you sleep better and dream more peacefully this season. Try eating a lighter dinner a few hours before bed, since heavy or spicy food late at night has been linked to more restless sleep. A few minutes of meditation before bed can also help, since a calmer mind before sleep tends to lead to calmer dreams.

Keeping a consistent sleep schedule matters too. Going to bed and waking up around the same time each day supports deeper rest, which often means clearer, more peaceful dreams.

Is Your Pillow Causing You Pain?

Take a second and think about how you felt the moment you woke up today. Stiff neck? Tight shoulders? If that sounds familiar, the problem usually isn't how you slept, it's what you slept on. A regular pillow collapses under your head, forcing your neck into an unnatural angle for hours, and that pressure builds up into the stiffness you feel by morning.

VelaSleep solves this problem. It's a pillow built to gently lift and support the base of your neck while you sleep, instead of letting it collapse. That light lift relieves pressure and helps your spine settle back into proper alignment, all without you having to do anything differently.

Why people are loving it:

• Works for every sleep position: Contoured support for side sleepers, a center curve for back sleepers, and a lower-profile edge for stomach sleepers.

• Helps you breathe easier: Better neck support can help keep your airway open, reducing snoring and interruptions.

• Stays supportive for years: High-density memory foam holds its shape night after night instead of flattening over time.

• Stays cool, not hot: A breathable cover keeps air flowing so you're not waking up sweaty.

• Easy to keep clean: Washer and dryer safe.

For a limited time, save 50% on VelaSleep, backed by a 30-night guarantee so you can try it completely risk-free.

Stop waking up sore when you try the VelaSleep pillow.

Thank you to VelaSleep for sponsoring Note To Self. 

The Simple Bedtime Habit Worth Trying Tonight

A long day at a desk or on your feet can leave your neck, shoulders, and lower back tight by bedtime. Sleep experts say a few minutes of gentle stretching can help release that tension and ease you into a more restful night.

The key is keeping it slow and low-intensity, more like a wind-down than a workout. A simple neck stretch, tilting your ear toward your shoulder and holding for a few seconds on each side, can loosen tension built up from hours of screen time. A gentle child's pose or a reclined stretch, hugging one knee to your chest at a time, works well for a tight lower back.

Even a minute or two of stretching paired with slow, deep breathing can help calm your body before sleep. Think of it as a cue to your nervous system that the day is winding down.

Try adding two or three stretches to your bedtime routine tonight. It doesn't need to be complicated to make a real difference in how quickly you fall asleep.

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Wellness Round-Up

Parting Thoughts

• ✅ Did You Know: Most adults cycle through about five complete sleep stages, from light sleep to REM, over the course of a night, with each cycle lasting roughly ninety minutes and repeating multiple times before waking.

• 🌅 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: Good sleep quietly shapes how the whole next day feels. It's worth protecting when you can.

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]!