Posted on by Lonwabo Makapela

Spring is on the way

I am finally beginning to feel warmth in the air, and I can finally walk out onto my tiny balcony in the mornings, breathe it in, express my gratitude for being here, for having the best support system, and that I get to do what I do; thank you! September is my birthday month, and I am thrilled to embrace my inner Spring girl again.

A key benefit of being back in South Africa is that I can go home to the Eastern Cape (E.C.) whenever I feel like it. You may have gathered from my previous posts that my parents are a significant source of support for me during my PhD journey and my life in general. Following the trip you took with me from Gauteng to E.C., I spent quality time at home by engaging in chats with my parents, resting, braaiing, resetting, and trust me; it was just what I needed.

The schedule on August 16th was typical of my weekday.

Mornings

I believe that my strength lies in my ability to adhere to a strict morning routine, regardless of how I feel. In the winter, I wake up at 6:00 AM, which shifts to 5:45 AM in the summer. I never press the snooze button because I sleep with my phone on the furthest table from my bed, forcing me to get up and out of bed to switch off my alarm.

I started the day with 10–15 minutes of quiet time, which I did not record, as I’ve found that the steeper the upward climb to attain my PhD, the more I lean on my faith and spirituality in addition to my loved ones. After quiet time, I prepared for my 30-40 minute workout. I always exercise while listening to SAfm to stay informed about current events in South Africa and the world. Sometimes, the news can be heavy for me, and during those moments, I switch to a podcast. My current favourite is Motivation with Brendon Burchard. After my workout, I make my bed, drink my vitamins, shower, and make a simple breakfast of oats or homemade granola with a cup of rooibos. Once ready, I either work at my desk or head to the campus library to start my work. I aim to work on campus twice a week, but I anticipate that once the weather becomes warmer, I will go more frequently.

Afternoons

Naturally, around 12:30, my body signals that it’s time for a nap, so I take a break and do things like warm up some meal prep, eat, catch up on YouTube which over the last week has included the ‘Follow Up – day in the life of a Post Graduate Researcher’ vlogs of my fellow SAYAS bloggers, and take a nap until 14:00. Preparing meals in advance is convenient because it helps me avoid thinking about what I’ll eat, and my naps usually last 40 minutes. After waking up, I have some fruit and drink another cup of rooibos, and then I continue working until around 17:00. This work block often occurs on my couch, which is easier on my back, and I continue with my workflow until I’m done or satisfied with my progress.

Evenings

In the evenings, I often engage in long video calls with my parents and other loved ones, and I prepare light snacks while trying to unwind by journaling and planning for the following day. Despite my bedtime of 21:00, I still struggle with falling asleep at night, which causes my sleep schedule to shift to any time after 23:00. I have been trying to shake off the persistent late nights since returning to South Africa from the U.S.

One of the things that I still need to restore entirely is my involvement in extracurricular activities. This is because of my upcoming trip to Nigeria. However, I am hopeful that I will incorporate one back into my schedule once I return to South Africa.

Posted on by johanne_marais

Master the Science of Making Progress: A Day in my Life

I read a book this year called Cortex and Mind. I often draw on a thought from that book, which is remarkably applicable to both neuroscience and society. Joaquín Fuster says: “Networks and knowledge are open-ended. Never in the life of the individual do they cease to grow or to be otherwise modified…” I think this statement holds true for how life is founded on networks growing and communities encouraging interpersonal change. In a recent panel discussion, my friend and colleague Ursula Mariani reminded us that we are allowed to change our opinions; to say “I said this, but I no longer think that way.”

At this point in the year, if you have been following my blogs throughout 2023, you’d likely have a well-curated mental construction of who I am. If you recall my blog about winter, you may have gathered that I am an early riser; an advocate for gentle adaptations; and that I’m a neuroscientist researching sleep. Well, in my Spring edition of the Day in My Life vlog, you will encounter evidence of this and (visually) a better image of me. There are many close-ups, and many snippets of my cat Frosty.

My top priority every day is clear: serve King Frosty, the King of Everything. 

Second to that, a typical week has a fair degree of structure. On Mondays and Wednesdays, I have a lot of energy and excitement for the tasks that I get to do. I often commit to the emotionally and cognitively demanding tasks on those days: data handling; writing; research; planning the week’s work (and play) … These are often full days on campus, and I then spend the evenings in the Wits Sleep Lab.

Behold my dehydrated self!

Tuesdays are often SASSH membership capturing days; general administrative catch-up on emails and prepping for Thursday supervisor meetings. Thursdays invite calm, mid-week rejuvenation in the form of a morning meditation offered at the School of Physiology for staff and students. Then, at 09h00 I have my weekly meeting with my supervisors. I try to schedule all other meetings that arise for Thursdays too, since I am comfortable to be a bit more passively present in engagements than absent-minded in solo tasks. At this point in the week (though I am often able to shake things off), I can feel that my sleep debt is quite strong and my capacity to human effectively is tapering. I try go home early and assume the horizontal position imminently upon my return to the haven. 

Otherwise, what I outlined in my first vlog as a typical plan of action is mostly the same: breathe deeply; move often; rest, digest, invest.

I think my greatest lesson learned as an MSc student so far is that what we study is not what we do nor who we are. It’s increasingly apparent to me that this is where academia previously slurped me into the vortex of productivity over passion. I’m still learning how to build a house, but I have a much better idea of how I’d like to live in it.