Sleeping is like eating!
After a sumptuous dinner at GBK, we drove back, listening to the radio, and the RJ went on and on about the value of getting a night of good sleep! Then, just like that from nowhere, my fourteen-year-old came up with that gem of a statement — “Sleeping is like eating!” and I called it the phrase of the century.
Ironically a few days back, we were discussing the same topic, and like any teenager, he was dismissive. But, generalising the stages of life and what people typically go through, I observe that most teenagers do the same, and their parents tend to warn them on the same topics.
This has been happening since Plato’s days.
Later, in the fourth century BC, Plato was heard to remark: “What is happening to our young people? They disrespect their elders, they disobey their parents. They ignore the law. They riot in the streets, inflamed with wild notions. Their morals are decaying. What is to become of them?” —
The young want to change the world, while the wise warn of the dangers of change!
Coming back to the main topic about eating & sleeping — there are so many articles about diets and sleeping. Many people want to binge eat and sleep while desiring to relish the food and be successful entrepreneurs burning their midnight oil!
In this context, the phrase Sleeping is like eating becomes very relevant. Too much sleeping or eating or anything is not going to help. In my native language, we used to have a saying:
One who eats once is a yogi, twice, a bhogi and anymore becomes a rhogi!
Many might associate the term yogi with a yoga practitioner, but a twelfth-century unknown Tamil poet calls out that a yogi is a moderate, and doesn’t succumb to senses (Bhogi). In contrast, a Rhogi is an unfortunate, diseased person. The time-tested ancient Vedas also highlight the same concept of living.
One should therefore eat only in the evening and morning; and whosoever, knowing this, eats only in the evening and morning, reaches the full measure of life (intermittent fasting anyone?)
The point is everything in moderation!
In my early days into the profession, I worked longer hours, also ‘partied’ for more extended hours — no doubt about that. As a consequence, I suffered from terrible migraines. However, a few years into my career, I took a step back, thanks to a great manager who also mentored me at Centrica Energy. He shared an approach to work and a great way to be the best at what I was doing.
If one worked long hours a week, he would recommend a quieter week to follow. Or if it were a long few days, he would suggest it alternate with a quiet few days to balance the ‘energy.’ So you get the gist — it is all about balancing one’s energy and for that, one needs to be self-aware about their body clock and be fully tuned in.
This technique appealed to me and started to gel well with me. I tried doing this often and started to feel a new rhythm setting in, and my creativity started to flow consistently.
Later on, I improvised this model and scaled it up for the whole team. I came up with something called the 1/3rd philosophy! (This is for another day!)
Wrapping it all up, to get the best out of oneself: be tuned to your body — tuning and listening to your body takes time. There will be a lot of wrong signals, don’t be put off; eventually, you will get there!
Listen to your body, and you will know when to sleep or eat (all in moderation!)
