Hussein Naji, PhD (Healthcare Research)
Evidence-based breakdowns on which supplements matter (e.g., creatine, omega-3s, magnesium) and when to use them.
Tiny Tasks Feeling Draining? You’re Under-Recovered, Not Lazy
I’m neurodivergent and have a PhD in healthcare research. Here are 10 signs you’re under-recovered, not unmotivated (and what you can do): 1. Even tiny tasks feel emotionally exhausting.
Invisible Burdens Make Neurodivergent Behavior Seem Inconsistent
One reason neurodivergent people come across as “inconsistent”: People judge behavior. They don’t see the invisible cost of: - transitions - sensory load - decision fatigue - recovering from normal life
Bad Habits Are Clever Adaptations to an Unhealthy Life
Most “bad habits” are just intelligent adaptations to a life your body doesn’t actually like.
Progress Over Perfection: Keep Restarting After Setbacks
As a health researcher, this might surprise you: Having a bad week isn’t a big deal. You can eat fast food, drink alcohol, and miss your workouts and still be completely fine. People who age the worst aren’t the ones who have...
Self‑care Isn’t Laziness; You Can’t Pour Empty
You can't pour from an empty cup. But somehow we've built a culture that calls the empty cup lazy.
Overexplaining: A Nervous System Habit, Not a Personality Trait
I'm a neurodivergent health researcher. Here are 9 ways overexplaining is a learned nervous system habit, not a personality trait (and what you can do): 1. You explain your reasons before anyone has even questioned them (your body is bracing for misunderstanding...
Facing a Wall Boosts Focus by Limiting Distractions
I'm neurodivergent and have a PhD in healthcare research. Here are 13 unconventional things that actually help your brain focus — that have nothing to do with discipline: 1. Face a wall or corner when you need to concentrate. Fewer things in...
Catastrophic Thoughts Follow a Script—Learn to Interrupt
I'm neurodivergent and have a PhD in healthcare research. Your brain doesn't catastrophize randomly. It follows a script. Here's what the script looks like (and how to interrupt it):
Low‑friction Health Support Helps Those Who Need It Most
The people who most need health advice are often the least able to use it. Because good advice still fails if it requires: - too much energy - too many decisions - too much executive function That is why low-friction health support matters so much.
Discipline Posts Validate the Fit, Alienate the Overwhelmed
HARD PILL TO SWALLOW: Most discipline content doesn’t help struggling people. It makes disciplined people feel validated, while making overwhelmed people feel even more broken. That realization changed how I do health content forever.
Concise Guides for Neurodivergent Minds—Now at Discount
I’m making the paid tier of my newsletter more useful for ND brains. There’s no single ND profile that applies to everyone. But there are common patterns around overload, friction & cognitive load. So the paid tier is now: smaller, clearer, more practical...
Why Standard Health Tips Miss Neurodivergent Realities
I'm a neurodivergent health researcher. Here are 12 health tips that are correct in theory but often fail in real life (especially for NDs): (and what actually works better)
Daily Walks Boost Mood, Productivity, and Shed Pounds
As a scientist, I like to question the status quo and stay open-minded. So I tried going for a walk outside every day for a couple of weeks to see what all the hype was about. Extremely annoying update: that shit actually...
Emerging From Depression: The Unexpected Lightness
What It Felt Like to Come Back From Depression (Content note: this post includes discussion of depression, suicidality, and eating disorders.)
Ground Your Body to Quiet an Overactive Mind
If your body feels “on” and your brain won’t shut up, try this before you do anything else: - sit down - feet pressed against the floor - one long exhale - soften your jaw - slowly look left & count to 2 - slowly look...