Supplements

I slept well last night using the CPAP machine. But I was tired because I went to the gym and did not get the right sleep the previous night after coming back from our weekend trip. So I was exhausted when I went to bed but CPAP improved the quality of my rest. I think this device is a game changer for one’s quality of life, a technology that was available previously to the very rich. I feel more concentrated and focused during the day and more use of CPAP will improve my life in subtle ways that I would not notice. So that got me to thinking of further improving my functioning with vitamin supplements that help one’s cognitive function. I did dome research and settled on three possible candidates: Valerian, St. John’s wort and Gingko Biloba. Coupled with yoga, kettle ball, and golf and hiking would make the change complete.

I always try something new whenever I move to a new assignment or location. More like an instinctive act to prepare for stress brought about by change. For example, after moving to Singapore, I tried mind-mapping, Tai-Chi, golf and, eventually, Toastmaster and blogging. Along the way I dabbled in roller blading and guitar playing. I believe all these interests have improved my outlook and bandwidth. Now with my recent transfer, I think focusing on sleeping better via CPAP, getting more challenges in Toastmaster and work have upped the ante, driving up the quality of the game. Adding supplements to the plan will hopefully mitigate one’s biological constraints. The idea is to counter the inevitable onslaught of aging particularly cognitive decline, which one should control by multi-tasking less and keeping one’s mind focused at one important task at a time. Rushing to the weekend, with multiple reading and viewing of DVDs is not a good thing as well.

But I realize that a more fundamental change is needed involving one’s outlook. Otherwise age and one’s increasing work will force one to limit extra-curricular tasks like watching movies or reading at every free moment, instead of really relaxing. One has to be selective and reduce the amount of trivial movies or books to read. In the end, reducing mental stimuli will cause one to focus better. I am trying to read a book that attempts to make one more productive, written by a Harvard professor who has multiple careers. He has interesting tips useful to help achieve goals. I guess the idea is to undertake a combination of biological improvements (Tai-Chi, Yoga, CPAP and supplements), learn new tricks (smart phone / tablet tools, productivity techniques, focus) and a selective reduction of trivial tasks. Now that is a workable plan.

In retrospect, I think I have a ‘fight or flight’ response that drives my curiosity to read, watch and experience more. A fear that one will be less smart, less relevant and unable to compete at work; the fear that one will lose his advantage by being the smartest one in the room. But I do enjoy the varied experiences and input, not really driven by fear; but now one has to focus or lose relevance. Age and circumstances is bringing this youthful urge to a close. Perhaps one is getting worn-out and all one’s journey and travels (both physically and psychologically) is coming to an end. All the supplements and improvements will be put to good use if one is able to focus more. I realize that I could never be a writer in my youth like Capote, Mitchell or Harper Lee because I was too involved with experiencing life, self-absorbed, reading and watching movies; lacking focus and discipline.

Brain Oxygen

Recently I started using a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine to cure my sleep apnea. After spending 2 nights in a sleep disorder clinic, I was diagnosed and prescribed a CPAP device to solve my sleeping problem. I did not think that my dilemma was severe but the test results proved otherwise. The findings revealed that I am losing quality sleep. I suspected as much because I snore loudly (a sign) and frequently wake up at night due to loss of breath (in my opinion), although my wife did not think so at the time. I know a lot of people who snore but the idea of a sleep disorder never entered my mind. But sleep apnea is a real dilemma but not life threatening. Nevertheless, the loss of oxygen although slight or not enough to kill you would have an effect on the quality of your sleep as well as the effective functioning of your mind and body. I had a hard time sleeping in the first 2 nights using the instrument but last night was great and I felt better this morning.

Maybe it’s the missing piece that I was searching for that could change my life.  A new technology that would fix some fundamental problem that one did not know existed. For example, one could exist in life walking with a wrong posture or gait and suddenly discovers the Alexander method that supposedly teaches correct physical movement and corrects wrong posture and so on that one’s life is changed. Or, something like meditation or Yoga or Tai Chi; some technology or practice that would improve your way of life by altering a fundamental error; whether it is one’s breathing or attention to details. I have experienced similar changes brought about by new tools like mind mapping which helped me clarify my thoughts and improve my thinking; a simple technique that made me tackle difficult projects and understand abstract concepts. Similarly cognitive therapy and journal writing have also been helpful in reducing my stress and identify wrong thinking habits.

Recently ‘Shape Up’ shoes with its rounded soles have helped my walking, which I always liked to do, discovering new places but recently found myself incapable of sauntering long stretches because my legs tired easily unlike a few years back. Perhaps it is my age or wear and tear like the way an athlete has knee pain after extensive use but one day I discovered ‘Shape Up’ and a new way of walking that allowed me to continue strolling long stretches. Perhaps another technique is Tai Chi - Qi Gong exercises that I think have help reduce stress but I am unable to prove. Now with my CPAP machine, perhaps my thinking and outlook will improve now that more oxygen is reaching my brain, a sort of biological correction that will surely help in the coming years. Without a doubt, moving to this new location, meeting new people, working in challenging projects, plus difficult situations will take their toll in both mind and body that any new technology that will help improve one’s life is always good.

  

Yoga is another technique that I hope to try soon. Making yoga a habit will reduce stiffness and loss of flexibility that aging inevitably brings. But yoga also helps one’s focus especially as one tries to simplify his life and increase motivation on true goals. All these techniques help one in this fast paced world. For instance, it’s another stressful week with the customer raising hell and the project manager distracted on other projects that I find myself in the spot again. Perplexed with too many problems, emails to respond to, moving forward to a new job and so on. But I have achieved a milestone this week with the end of one project, using the CPAP machine and fighting back the pressure coming from the stakeholders of my projects. It is Easter weekend which I hope to spend in Atlanta visiting museums, eating good food, exploring places and having a good time. Next week is another time where the battles will commence with the return of the project manager. Let the games resume as one would say.