Tuesday

"I trust myself to find my way, step by step."

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

• Wellness Postcards: Italy

• How hard water affects your hair

• Is your shower water dirty?

• The connection between food and dreams

• How you can help protect the birds

Wellness Postcards: Italy’s “La Dolce Vita”

Welcome back to Wellness Postcards. This week, we’re writing from Italy, where wellness often feels less like a routine and more like a way of moving through the day. Think slower meals, long walks, fresh food, and making time to actually enjoy where you are.

In Tuscany, wellness might mean an afternoon at natural thermal spas in Saturnia or Bagno Vignoni. In the Dolomites, it looks more like alpine hikes in Cortina d’Ampezzo followed by saunas and mountain dinners. Along the Amalfi Coast and in Cinque Terre, people recharge through ocean swims, fresh seafood, and sunset passeggiatas through colorful seaside towns.

Food is part of the rhythm too. Italians often shop at local markets, cook seasonally, and linger over meals instead of rushing through them. A simple espresso at a café or a bowl of pasta at a tiny trattoria becomes less about convenience and more about slowing down enough to enjoy the experience.

One of the biggest lessons Italy offers is that wellness does not always have to look productive. Sometimes it’s leaving room to wander without a plan, sitting outside longer than expected, or letting a beautiful place set the pace for the day instead of your phone.

Next week, Wellness Postcards heads somewhere new for another look at self-care traditions and wellness rituals around the world.

The Haircare Issue Hiding in Your Shower

Hard water has quietly become one of the bigger conversations in haircare lately. If hair suddenly feels duller, frizzier, heavier, or harder to manage, dermatologists say the minerals in shower water could be playing a role.

Hard water contains higher amounts of minerals like calcium and magnesium, which can leave buildup on the scalp and hair over time. Experts say this buildup may block moisture, make shampoo harder to fully rinse out, contribute to dryness and breakage, and even affect how long hair color lasts. Many people also notice their scalp feels itchier or their hair feels coated after washing.

The good news is that dermatologists do not consider hard water a direct cause of hair loss. Still, because it can lead to dryness and brittle strands, it may contribute to more breakage than usual. Clarifying shampoos, scalp detox treatments, and filtered shower heads are becoming popular ways people are trying to reduce mineral buildup and help hair feel softer again.

It’s also a reminder that healthy hair is not always just about the products themselves. Sometimes the small everyday things, like the water running through the shower, can change how hair looks and feels over time.

Is Your Shower Water Dirty?

Most people don’t think twice about their shower water, but it can have a bigger impact than expected. Tap water often contains chlorine and heavy metals, which can strip natural oils and affect how your skin and hair look and feel.

That’s where the NUUD Showerhead makes a difference. It’s a filtered showerhead designed to improve your water at the source. Its triple filtration system helps reduce those impurities, which can lead to softer, smoother hair, clearer skin, and a healthier scalp over time.

What people are noticing:

• Less dandruff and reduced scalp irritation

• Improved moisture retention for skin and hair

• Support for thinning hair

• Longer-lasting hair color

NUUD also upgrades the experience itself. With three pressure modes, it creates a more spa-like feel, while finishes like chrome, black, or brushed nickel make it easy to match your space.

It’s a simple switch, but one that can make a noticeable difference in how your hair and skin feel after every shower. For a limited time, Note To Self readers can get 10% off your NUUD Showerhead purchase.

Try NUUD risk-free.

Thank you to NUUD Showerhead for sponsoring Note To Self. 

The Surprising Link Between Food and Dreams

If dreams have been feeling extra vivid lately, sleep experts say dinner could be part of the reason. Researchers are still studying the connection, but foods that disrupt sleep quality may also affect how intense, emotional, or memorable dreams feel overnight.

Experts say dairy, spicy foods, and sugary snacks are some of the biggest culprits. Spicy meals can raise body temperature, sugary foods may trigger overnight blood sugar swings, and dairy can cause digestive discomfort for some people, especially those with lactose intolerance. When sleep gets interrupted, REM cycles can become fragmented, which may make dreams feel stranger or more emotionally charged.

The good news is that sleep quality appears to matter more than avoiding one specific food forever. Dietitians say balanced evening meals, fewer ultra-processed foods, and lighter nighttime snacks may help support more restful sleep overall. Foods rich in magnesium and tryptophan, like pumpkin seeds, almonds, eggs, and tart cherries, are also being studied for their potential sleep-supporting benefits.

Sleep experts also point out that bedtime habits still matter most. Stress, screen time, irregular sleep schedules, and late-night overstimulation tend to have a much bigger effect on sleep quality than one slice of pizza ever could.

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Parting Thoughts

• ✅ Did You Know: Hard water can leave behind mineral buildup on hair and skin, which may contribute to dryness or dullness.

• 🌅 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: You don’t always notice what’s affecting your skin and scalp until something changes. Paying attention is part of caring for yourself.

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]!