How is the summer almost over already?

It feels like this year is speeding by.

In 2020, when the pandemic was just starting and lockdowns seemed to last forever, the year dragged.

Now, as we've begun to adapt to the new normal of working from home and vaccines have made socializing more possible, it feels like the year has flown by.

Didn't summer just start? And now Pumpkin Spice Lattes are filling up my social media feeds.

Although the official start of fall isn't until mid-September, it already feels like the summer is wrapping up, which makes me sad.

I don't know if it's because I wish I had more time to enjoy the warmer months – reading in the park, going to the beach and not needing to worry about wearing a big coat everywhere – or because the unpredictability of wintertime worries me.

But I'm trying to stay positive and focus on the things that make me excited for the change in the season like fall baking and crisp sweater weather. 

Your answer to feeling tired at work

After hours of working, many adults experience a mid-day slump of drowsiness and find themselves in desperate need of a re-charge. But instead of grabbing a caffeinated beverage, it may be more worthwhile to combat your sleepiness with, well, sleep.

To help you optimize your nap game, my colleague Jenna Ryu spoke to experts to find out how to skip the coffee and power nap instead. 

A power nap can "provide the refreshment you need if you're struggling to stay alert or haven't had a good night's sleep," explains Rebecca Robbins, a sleep scientist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

A power nap "gives people the chance to rest for a short period of time to boost workplace productivity," she says, but power naps are only beneficial when they are done correctly. 

Sleep experts say that power naps should be quick and refreshing— typically between 20 and 30 minutes— in order to increase alertness throughout the day.

"You don't have to go to sleep fully," says James Maas, a former professor and chair of psychology at Cornell University who coined the term "power nap" more than 50 years ago. "It's an opportunity to shut your eyes, breathe slowly and recharge."

To read the full article, click here.

Today's reads

• Is it wrong to date multiple people at once? 
• Here's what people are getting wrong about asexuality (spoiler: it's a lot)
• Some vaccinated people are losing motivation to stay safe. Here's why.
• As more news unfolds in Afghanistan, here's what you should (and shouldn't) say to Afghanistan war veterans right now
• What Trump getting booed can teach us about this COVID moment
• Delta variant have you ready to scrap your trip? Here's how to cancel your travel plans like a pro

Today's pet

Meet Star.

Star is a 3-year-old Golden Retriever who "LOVES her plushy babies," writes Nancy Symns of Belleville, Ill. 

"(She) carries them everywhere, along with sleeping with as many as possible all while leaning her head on my shoulder or chest," she adds.

Star came into Nancy's life by way of a close friend after losing her previous pet. 

"I went five months before my friend stopped in with 'Sunshine' – that was her name at the time. She was 18 months old, and I was afraid she’d not adjust to me after being on a large farm area – never having been on a leash either," she explains. "As I was walking my friend out to his truck with Sunshine next to me, I looked up at the very clear night sky and saw a few very bright stars. It was at that moment I knew her name would be Star, as she’d be the next 'Star' of my life."

Nancy describes Star as her "constant companion," who loves "riding in our convertible and loves me with all she is as I love her, too."