#114 - Notes on Introverts, Sleep and Love
Education Coffee is a 2xWeekly Newsletter on People, Ideas and Culture.
In each edition of this newsletter, I share some inspiring web resources that I have curated after hours of research to ensure that you have the best education coffee in your inbox. In upcoming editions, I will focus on sharing insights, notes and realizations that I gather from people, ideas, books, films and podcasts.
1. Learning from People
On Episode 51 of #LearningStories we chat with Devendra Kumar about the Life of an Information Technology Professional in India. Devendra is a Senior IT Consultant, certified Yoga Instructor, and advocate for sustainable weight loss and holistic well-being. From 2007 to 2013, he completed a Bachelor in Technology in Electronics and a Masters in Technology in Mechatronics. Since 2013, he has worked as an Information Technology Professional in the Logistics Consulting space for companies like IBM, Tieto, Flo Group, ITC Infotech and Accenture.
He has also worked on startup ideas and projects in the fields of Robotics (TechRobo) and Ayurveda (Dirghayu). He has a passion for teaching and sharing his experiences with the world through ebooks, social media and courses. After transforming his own health and overcoming challenges with weight loss he released a digital weight loss guide where he draws on personal experiences to empower readers on their journey to better health. You can follow his journey on Linkedin.
2. Learning from Ideas and Questions
Susan Horowitz Cain is an American writer and lecturer. She is the author of the 2012 non-fiction book Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking, which argues that modern Western culture misunderstands and undervalues the traits and capabilities of introverted people. She describes this idea in the TED Talk linked below. She has also written Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole (2022).
I love the resources and posts she shares on her social media and her website about the power of introverts and the role of sorrow and suffering to bring joy into our lives. She has a lot of recommendations for creating spaces for quieter conversations in modern society. Her introduction on her website is one of the warmest such introductions I have read on the internet in a long time. She also write a newsletter called, ‘The Quiet Life’ and you can read the archives here.
3. Learning from Books, Websites and Blog
I recently finished reading, ‘Why We Sleep Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams’ by Dr. Matthew Walker. Here are some notes and insights from the book that helped me rethink my relationship with sleep on a day to day basis.
Here are some questions this book answers:
1) Why we sleep?
2) What are the stages of sleep?
3) How does sleep prevent chronic illness?
4) How does sleep help you process information and memories?
5) How different living beings sleep on the planet?
6) What neurotransmitter helps you fall asleep through the day?
7) What hormone is responsible for helping you fall asleep?
8) What is the impact of technology use on sleep?
9) What are the connections between sleep and learning?
10) How does sleep make you more productive at work?
What I liked about this book?
There are four simple sections and you can read them in random order. They are a bit academic but also quite accessible. The author has spent twenty years of his life studying the subject. He summarizes several academic studies about sleep in this book. By the end of the book, I realized that sleep is the universal health care provider. We sleep for 1/3 rd of our life. Bad habits early in life compound over time and can lead to several ailments.
Here are some tips to a good night's sleep:
- Sleep at the same time and wake up at the same time
- Have a nightly sleep time ritual
- Avoid coffee and naps after 2 pm
- Maintain a cool temperature before you get to bed
- Avoid technology and bright lights in the house in the evenings
- Get lots of natural light and movement through the day
- Meditate for a few minutes to calm your mind before you sleep
- Have positive associations in your head about sleep and your place of rest
- Don't stay in bed for more than 25 minutes if you are not getting sleep
4. Learning from Films, Videos and Shows
This film was a touching ode to the sacrifices and adjustments you willingly make for the person you decide to spend your life with. Also a meditation on loss and processing grief as a family. Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh are stellar in the main roles. Explores themes of parenting, grief, marriage and more. I highly recommend, ‘We Live in Time’ (2024).
5. Learning from Podcasts and Music
In this episode 1 of a 6-part special series on sleep with Dr. Matthew Walker, Ph.D., professor of neuroscience and psychology and founder of the Center for Human Sleep Science at the University of California, Berkeley, and the author of the book “Why We Sleep” discusses the essential role that sleep plays in our health. They cover how sleep affects our hormones, immune system, learning and memory, mood, appetite, and weight regulation. You can watch Episode 2, Episode 3, Episode 4, Episode 5 and Episode 6 at these links. It is 12 hours long and is a perfect companion to his detailed book on this topic listed above.
Thank you for reading this edition of #EducationCoffee. I look forward to writing weekly editions of this newsletter this year. I hope to continue to share resources that will add value to your life. You can also review the archive of Education Coffee for free at this link (100+ newsletters here).
Please do send me your thoughts and resources on any edition of this newsletter to abhishekashokshetty@gmail.com. If you would like to read pieces in the future please do consider subscribing to this newsletter by clicking the button below. I love taking these discussions forward on those platforms and look forward to hearing your feedback.
Abhishek