The Art of the 15-Minute Nap

Fifteen minutes is enough. Research on brief daytime rest keeps arriving at the same conclusion: short naps restore alertness without the heaviness of deep sleep.

Set the stage before you lie down. Dim the lights, put the phone face down across the room, and light a candle whose scent your brain will learn to associate with resting.

Do not chase sleep. Close your eyes, follow your breath, and accept whatever arrives. Even quiet wakefulness lowers stress more than another hour of scrolling.