diff --git a/internal/dm/handlers.go b/internal/dm/handlers.go
index 64e4b21..6bbea73 100644
--- a/internal/dm/handlers.go
+++ b/internal/dm/handlers.go
@@ -82,10 +82,7 @@ func (h *Handler) Create(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 			memberSet[uid] = struct{}{}
 		}
 	}
-	if len(memberSet) == 1 {
-		http.Error(w, `{"error":"cannot create conversation with yourself"}`, http.StatusBadRequest)
-		return
-	}
+	// ponytail: allow self-DM (notes to self) — len(memberSet)==1 is fine
 
 	memberIDs := make([]string, 0, len(memberSet))
 	for uid := range memberSet {
@@ -94,7 +91,24 @@ func (h *Handler) Create(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	sort.Strings(memberIDs)
 
 	// For a 1:1 DM, check if it already exists.
-	if len(memberIDs) == 2 {
+	if len(memberIDs) == 1 {
+		var existingID string
+		err := h.db.QueryRowContext(r.Context(), `
+			SELECT c.id FROM conversations c
+			WHERE c.type = 'dm'
+			  AND (SELECT COUNT(*) FROM conversation_members cm WHERE cm.conversation_id = c.id) = 1
+			  AND EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM conversation_members cm2 WHERE cm2.conversation_id = c.id AND cm2.user_id = $1)
+			LIMIT 1
+		`, memberIDs[0]).Scan(&existingID)
+		if err == nil {
+			h.getByID(w, r, existingID)
+			return
+		}
+		if !errors.Is(err, sql.ErrNoRows) {
+			http.Error(w, `{"error":"server error"}`, http.StatusInternalServerError)
+			return
+		}
+	} else if len(memberIDs) == 2 {
 		var existingID string
 		err := h.db.QueryRowContext(r.Context(), `
 			SELECT c.id FROM conversations c
diff --git a/web/src/components/ConversationList.tsx b/web/src/components/ConversationList.tsx
index 462a920..c137a79 100644
--- a/web/src/components/ConversationList.tsx
+++ b/web/src/components/ConversationList.tsx
@@ -8,11 +8,16 @@ function otherMemberName(conv: { members: { id: string; username: string }[] },
   return other?.username || "unknown";
 }
 
+function isSelfDM(conv: { members: { id: string }[] }, currentUserId: string) {
+  return conv.members.length === 1 && conv.members[0].id === currentUserId;
+}
+
 export function ConversationList() {
   const conversations = useConversationStore((s) => s.conversations);
   const activeId = useConversationStore((s) => s.activeConversationId);
   const fetchConversations = useConversationStore((s) => s.fetchConversations);
   const setActive = useConversationStore((s) => s.setActiveConversation);
+  const createConversation = useConversationStore((s) => s.createConversation);
   const currentUser = useAuthStore((s) => s.user);
   const [showNew, setShowNew] = useState(false);
 
@@ -20,25 +25,48 @@ export function ConversationList() {
     fetchConversations();
   }, [fetchConversations]);
 
+  const openNotes = async () => {
+    // Find existing self-DM or create one
+    const existing = conversations.find((c) => isSelfDM(c, currentUser?.id || ""));
+    if (existing) {
+      setActive(existing.id);
+      return;
+    }
+    try {
+      await createConversation([]);
+    } catch { /* ignore */ }
+  };
+
   return (
     <div className="h-full w-56 bg-gb-bg-s border-r border-gb-bg-t flex flex-col">
       <div className="terminal-border border-t-0 border-x-0 px-3 py-2 text-gb-fg truncate flex items-center justify-between">
         <span>[DIRECT MESSAGES]</span>
-        <button
-          onClick={() => setShowNew(true)}
-          className="terminal-button text-xs"
-          title="New conversation"
-        >
-          [+]
-        </button>
+        <div className="flex gap-1">
+          <button
+            onClick={openNotes}
+            className="terminal-button text-xs"
+            title="Notes to self"
+          >
+            [📝]
+          </button>
+          <button
+            onClick={() => setShowNew(true)}
+            className="terminal-button text-xs"
+            title="New conversation"
+          >
+            [+]
+          </button>
+        </div>
       </div>
       <div className="flex-1 overflow-y-auto p-2 font-mono text-sm">
         {conversations.length === 0 && (
           <p className="text-gb-fg-f">[no conversations]</p>
         )}
         {conversations.map((conv) => {
-          const name =
-            conv.type === "group_dm"
+          const self = isSelfDM(conv, currentUser?.id || "");
+          const name = self
+            ? "Notes"
+            : conv.type === "group_dm"
               ? conv.name || conv.members.map((m) => m.username).join(", ")
               : otherMemberName(conv, currentUser?.id || "");
           return (
@@ -51,7 +79,7 @@ export function ConversationList() {
                   : "hover:bg-gb-bg-t text-gb-fg-s"
               }`}
             >
-              <span className="text-gb-fg-f">@</span>
+              <span className="text-gb-fg-f">{self ? "📝" : "@"}</span>
               <span className="truncate">{name}</span>
             </button>
           );
diff --git a/web/src/components/DMChat.tsx b/web/src/components/DMChat.tsx
index 5fd13f4..441ad8d 100644
--- a/web/src/components/DMChat.tsx
+++ b/web/src/components/DMChat.tsx
@@ -75,13 +75,16 @@ export function DMChat() {
     }
   };
 
-  const title = conversation
-    ? conversation.type === "group_dm"
-      ? conversation.name || conversation.members.map((m) => m.username).join(", ")
-      : conversation.members.find((m) => m.id !== currentUser?.id)?.username || "DM"
-    : id
-      ? "[LOADING...]"
-      : "[NO CONVERSATION]";
+  const selfDM = conversation && conversation.members.length === 1 && conversation.members[0].id === currentUser?.id;
+  const title = selfDM
+    ? "Notes"
+    : conversation
+      ? conversation.type === "group_dm"
+        ? conversation.name || conversation.members.map((m) => m.username).join(", ")
+        : conversation.members.find((m) => m.id !== currentUser?.id)?.username || "DM"
+      : id
+        ? "[LOADING...]"
+        : "[NO CONVERSATION]";
 
   return (
     <div className="flex flex-col h-full bg-gb-bg">