Aisha Cortoos clearly explains that emotions, stress and sleep are all forms of ‘data’ that our bodies provide us with. She argues that we should not ignore these signals, but rather learn to interpret them: this allows us to recover in good time and prevents short-term stress from developing into chronic symptoms. Aisha sees emotional intelligence as a skill that can be developed, helping us to avoid getting stuck in automatic reactions. She compares building stress resilience to building muscle strength: recovery and breaks are absolutely essential.​

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She also debunks the myth that everything must be rational. Rational people believe they can keep their emotions under control, but ignoring bodily signals or stress usually leads to poorer functioning and poor sleep. According to Aisha, meditation, paying attention to your body and feelings, and sometimes simply showing yourself a little kindness are just as valuable as pure reason.

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Finally, she emphasises the power of trial and error: there is no magic formula when it comes to sleep, work or personal development. Learning to listen, experiment and adjust - that, she believes, is the key to lasting wellbeing and growth.

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