This Tiny Daily Ritual Made Me Less Snappy (and Weirdly Smarter)

How 26 Quiet Minutes Became My Daily Reset Button

Many years ago, I used to scoff at naps. Really — I’d see someone dozing off and think, “Must be nice.”

Meanwhile, I was running on fumes, proud of how little sleep I could survive, displaying red eyes from lack of sleep as a badge of honor.

Coffee wasn’t just a drink; it was basically my personality. Looking back, I was kind of unbearable.

Photo by Houcine Ncib on Unsplash

When Hustle Culture Hits a Wall

I think it all started in medical school where naps weren’t just frowned upon, they were scorned.

Then came 2017, when I was trying to do too many things at once — talk to patients, write articles, and do the everyday things most of us do, even when we’re sleep deprived.

That year didn’t just knock me down — it steamrolled me.

Photo by Laura Chouette on Unsplash

Desperation, Drool, and the Accidental Discovery

One afternoon, in the middle of a telemedicine call, I hit a wall. Hard. I woke up with my…