đź’­ Plan your August closet reset

Monday 8/25: Sponsored by Pacaso and Money - fall vacation energy, closet reset, sick time off

August 25, 2025

In partnership with

Monday

"I create room for rest in my routines."

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

  • How to channel vacation energy in the fall

  • Tips for your August closet reset

  • A new way to own a vacation home

  • Why you’re always sick during your time off

  • How gold is breaking records

True or False?

Traveling in the fall is typically less expensive than summer.

Scroll for the answer!

How To Keep Vacation Energy All Fall

Vacation energy isn’t just a mood. It’s a mindset. It’s that lighter, more confident version of yourself that somehow appears when you’re away from your routine. And it doesn’t have to stay at the resort.

Start small: Wear that outfit you’ve been saving. Take your coffee somewhere new. Talk to a stranger at the farmers’ market. Even moving your social apps to a new phone screen can break old habits and wake up a more intentional mindset.

The idea isn’t to pretend you’re not busy or stressed. It’s to let in more of the things that make you feel like you. Prioritize fun, say yes to small indulgences, and let go of worrying about what people think. You don’t need to go far to find something new.

It’s Time for a Closet Cleanout

August is peak “I have nothing to wear” season, mostly because we’re looking at a full closet that doesn’t match our lives anymore. Summer’s winding down, and organizers say this is the best time to take stock of what didn’t actually get worn.

Start with the things you skipped: the swimsuit that’s lost its shape, the sundress with tags still on, or those sandals you avoided all season. If something’s stained, stretched, or just never made it into rotation, it might be time to let it go.

A small shift that helps? Set a visible donation bin inside or near your closet. Each time you notice something you’ve passed over (again), drop it in.

You don’t need a weekend to do this. You just need one decision. Letting go of what no longer fits, flatters, or feels like you makes more space for what does.

Big investors are buying this “unlisted” stock

When the founder who sold his last company to Zillow for $120M starts a new venture, people notice. That’s why the same VCs who backed Uber, Venmo, and eBay also invested in Pacaso.

Disrupting the real estate industry once again, Pacaso’s streamlined platform offers co-ownership of premier properties, revamping the $1.3T vacation home market.

And it works. By handing keys to 2,000+ happy homeowners, Pacaso has already made $110M+ in gross profits in their operating history.

Now, after 41% YoY gross profit growth last year alone, they recently reserved the Nasdaq ticker PCSO.

Paid advertisement for Pacaso’s Regulation A offering. Read the offering circular at invest.pacaso.com. Reserving a ticker symbol is not a guarantee that the company will go public. Listing on the NASDAQ is subject to approvals.

Thank you to Pacaso for sponsoring Note To Self. 

When Downtime Makes You Feel Worse

If you’ve ever come down with a cold right as your vacation begins, you’re not imagining things. Experts call it “leisure sickness”: a pattern of feeling unwell during time off, sometimes without an actual illness behind it.

It might start with a headache, body aches, or fatigue. The reasons vary, but a big one is how your body responds to stress. After pushing through work deadlines or busy routines, your immune system shifts gears. That drop in stress hormones can leave you more vulnerable to getting sick or just feeling off.

Even without a virus, changes in sleep, food, and movement before time off can make you feel rundown. Add travel, dehydration, and exposure to new germs, and it’s easy to see why your system might struggle.

To help, try easing into your break. Get good sleep the week before, keep up with basic meals and movement, and stay hydrated. A few small habits can go a long way toward making your time off feel like a real reset.

Gold Can’t Stop Breaking Records

Gold has been on a hot streak lately, increasing by 40% from the start of the year (and it doesn’t look like it’ll slow down). Why? Gold has historically thrived in uncertain markets, and you may have noticed we’re living in pretty uncertain times. Luckily, experts say there’s still plenty of room to grow. If you want in on the gold rush, check out Gold IRAs – they’re a good way to own physical gold, with the added IRA tax benefits.

Here’s how it works:

  • You can fund it by rolling over or transferring money from an existing IRA or 401(k).

  • The metals are stored in an IRS-approved depository.

  • Gains are tax-deferred (Traditional) or tax-free on qualified withdrawals (Roth).

View Money’s list of the best gold companies to find companies with free Gold IRA set-up offers and up to $20,000 in silver for qualifying purchases.

Thank you to Money.com for sponsoring Note To Self.

The Pause

Before you go, take a small pause from your day with this tip brought to you by The Note To Self editors.

Fall Recipe: Pear and walnut salad. Toss greens with sliced pear, toasted walnuts, and a mustard vinaigrette. Add blue cheese if you're in the mood.

Wellness Round-Up

Parting Thoughts

  • âś… True or False: True. Many destinations offer lower prices after peak season ends.

  • 🙋🏼‍♀️ 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! 

  • đź’­ Final Self-Care Thoughts for Today: Summer endings can feel bittersweet. But they’re also a quiet invitation to shift, to soften, and to settle into something new.

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