The Nap I Didn’t Take Today, and Why That Matters

This afternoon, I did something small—but powerful.

I didn’t take a nap.

Now, that might sound silly. I wasn’t exhausted, just drifting—thinking maybe I’d lie down “for a few minutes.” But I’ve learned how easily a few minutes can become two hours, and how that throws everything off—sleep schedule, motivation, even mood.

So instead, I made a different choice.

I grabbed a bottle of water, went outside in the 87-degree heat, and mowed the front yard.

It wasn’t glamorous. I was hot, sweaty, and smelled like victory (and maybe a little like grass clippings). But as the mower roared, I realized—I wasn’t just trimming the lawn. I was clearing mental clutter.

What It Gave Me Instead of a Nap

• A sense of accomplishment

• A burst of energy instead of fog

• A renewed confidence in myself

That simple act reminded me: I don’t always need to rest when I feel overwhelmed—I sometimes need a win.                                                                                                                      

Self-Leadership in Small Moments

Healing doesn’t just come in significant breakthroughs. It comes in tiny decisions like these that no one else sees or claps for. Choosing action over avoidance and choosing presence over pause.