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Monday

"I am learning to listen inward instead of outward."

It’s a new week! Today, we're chatting about:

• Why you need a third space

• Tips for boosting creativity

• This litter is made from plants

• What is somatic shaking?

• This matcha is good for your body

The Surprising Power of Your Local Spot

There’s something comforting about walking into a place where you don’t have to explain yourself. The same booth, the same order, maybe even the same server who already knows your name. It can feel small, but research suggests it’s anything but.

Back in 1973, sociologist Mark Granovetter introduced the idea of “weak ties”—the casual connections we have with people like baristas, bartenders, and gym staff. Decades later, research from Oxford found that regulars at local spots were more socially engaged and more likely to trust others in their community. A 2022 study in PNAS also showed that people who talked to a wider range of people in a day reported feeling happier.

These quick chats about the weather or a new menu item may seem minor, but psychologists say they can boost mood and create a sense of belonging. In a country where more than one-third of adults report feeling lonely, according to AARP, that matters.

So if you keep going back to the same coffee shop or pizza place, consider it self-care. Familiar places can quietly become your version of a third space and a steady source of connection.

Habits That Keep Curiosity Alive

Creativity isn’t a personality trait. It’s a practice. Doctors say the same habits that support brain health also make it easier to learn, connect ideas, and stay curious over time.

Sleep is foundational. Seven to eight hours each night helps your brain consolidate new information and make unexpected connections. Daily movement matters, too. Even light to moderate exercise can strengthen neural networks involved in learning and flexible thinking.

Novelty is another key ingredient. Trying a new hobby, reading outside your usual genres, or practicing a skill you’re not yet good at challenges the brain to form new pathways. Even daydreaming has been linked to pattern recognition and creative insight when balanced with intentional focus.

Staying socially engaged, spending time in green spaces, and listening to music you enjoy can also support attention and idea flow. None of this requires a dramatic reset. It’s about small, consistent habits that keep your mind open—and ready to learn something new.

This Cat Litter Is Made From Plants

Clay cat litter is common in the U.S., but the dust it releases can raise health concerns for both people and pets. Traditional clay contains crystalline silica, a substance the CDC and OSHA classify as a known human carcinogen when inhaled in significant or repeated amounts. Scooping or pouring can release fine dust that lingers in the air, and cats breathe it in every time they dig.

Tailfeather offers a cleaner, safer alternative. Their plant-based, clumping litter is made from coconut and cassava—materials that naturally absorb liquid, reduce dust, and feel soft under paws. Coconut husk can hold up to nine times its weight, making Tailfeather lightweight, low-tracking, and easy to maintain.

It’s fully biodegradable, 100% plastic-free (including the packaging), and delivered to your door. Each package lasts up to 8 weeks, double many traditional litters.

For the next 24 hours, Note To Self readers get a $15 credit on your first order with code NTS15.

Try Tailfeather for your cat and for the environment today.

Thank you to Tailfeather for sponsoring Note To Self. 

Stressed? Try Shaking It Out

Ever notice how your body wants to move when you’re overwhelmed? That instinct is at the heart of somatic shaking, a simple practice that involves intentionally shaking or trembling to release built-up stress.

According to clinical holistic psychologist Dr. Scott Lyons, stress is meant to move through the body in a cycle. We get activated, mobilize energy to respond, then return to calm. The problem is many of us skip the physical “mobilization” stage. We sit still, stay polite, or scroll on our phones instead of letting the energy discharge.

Somatic shaking aims to complete that cycle. The idea is that brief, full-body movement—like bouncing, stomping, or quickly shaking your arms—can help the nervous system shift out of fight-or-flight. Lyons notes that mammals naturally tremor after a threat passes. It’s one way the body resets.

If you’re curious, try it for one to two minutes. Move faster than your thoughts. Then pause and notice how you feel. It may look strange, but sometimes the most intuitive resets are the ones that feel a little wild.

The Cozy Winter Ritual Behind My Energy and Glow ✨

Winter calls for rituals that actually make you feel amazing—and Pique’s Sun Goddess Matcha is mine. It delivers clean, focused energy with zero jitters, supports glowing skin and gentle detox, and feels deeply grounding on cold mornings. Smooth, ceremonial-grade, and crave-worthy, it’s the easiest way to start winter days clear, energized, and glowing from the inside out

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Wellness Round-Up

Parting Thoughts

• ✅ True or False: True. Limitations focus the mind and encourage innovative thinking.

• 🌅 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 have to solve everything right now. Sometimes, the best way to relieve stress is to give yourself permission to pause.

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]!