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.
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.
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