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Kalki Koechlin’s battle with insomnia. Source: Express photo by Nirmal harindran. Heartbreak is often described only as an emotional experience. But its effects can go beyond feelings. When the mind is stressed, sleep is one of first things that is affected. Kalki Koechlin, an actress, recently discussed her experience on a podcast. She described how heartbreak caused months of insomnia, and how she struggled to feel grounded. Her nights became difficult, marked by repeated wakings and an inability of falling back to sleep. “I could not sleep. I would wake up around 2 or 3 am and play the guitar or do something to occupy me, because there was just no way to go back to sleep,” shared she. Over time, the lack rest began to blur boundaries between sleepiness and exhaustion. She described feeling disoriented, even during the day. This was especially true when her work required her full attention. “On days when I had to go to work, I felt like I was in a state of dream or awake. I was confused and wondered, “Is this happening, or am i still asleep?” It went on for about four months,” said she. The brain interprets loss as a reason to remain alert. Stress hormones are released, the system remains on and the natural drift to sleep is interrupted. Sleep is dependent on a feeling of safety. Heartbreak takes away that sense of safety. “What keeps people stuck, is the mind’s unwillingness to let go. “There’s constant replaying and questioning to try to make sense of the situation. In the clinic people often complain that they are tired but can’t’shut their heads’. That’s exactly what’s happening. He explains that the mind is still trying resolve something that feels incomplete. Over time, he has noticed that sleep itself becomes lighter. “Deep restorative sleep reduces. This is not an easy thing to correct for some, especially those who are already sensitive to stress. The night begins to feel more like a place of tension than rest. The second layer is the worry about not being able to sleep. Then, insomnia is not just about heartbreak. It becomes a pattern that the system has learned. Sleep cannot be forced. The more you try and control it, you become more alert. Raj stresses that the focus must be on calming down the system that is preventing sleep. He mentions that cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia remains one the most effective approaches. It resets both habits and anxiety about not sleeping which often keeps the loop going. “How you end the day is equally important. A predictable wind-down is important. It is important to reduce stimulation, avoid emotionally heavy conversations at night and create a routine that signals the system to go to sleep. By setting aside time to write down or process your thoughts in the evening, you can prevent them from spilling over into the night. Consistency is the key. Even after a bad night, waking up at the same hour every day helps to reset the rhythm. The expert concludes that sleep returns when the body feels stable again, and not when it’s pushed.

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Rakesh shares glimpses of the ‘den’ he calls home in Farah Khan’s new vlog. (Image source: Farah Khan/YouTube). Veteran actor Rakesh has been making waves since his stint in Dhurandhar where he played Jameel Jamali a Pakistani politician. This has sparked a meme trend that is sweeping social media. Farah Khan, a filmmaker and choreographer, visited the actor’s Mumbai home to provide glimpses into his personal space. In a video posted on her YouTube channel Farah arrived with her cook, Dilip, dressed as Ranveer’s Hamza Ali Mazari. The home tour starts with the entrance door decorated with plants, showpieces and a nameplate.Living room featuring Buddha-themed artThe entrance opens up into the spacious living area, which is distinguished by its warm, lived in charm. The room is characterized by tropical-upholstered wooden armchairs, two glass-topped centre tables, Buddha-themed art, leafy wallpaper and hanging plants. Rakesh Bedi’s living space (Image Source: Farah Khan/YouTube) The kitchen has the same inviting feel with wooden cabinetry and vintage details. Rakesh Bedi’s kitchen tour (Image Source: Farah K Khan/YouTube). Rakesh Bedi’s personal den. The walls are covered with portraits of Bedi’s fans, and a shelf shows off the awards he’s received over the years. He said that photos, souvenirs, and keepsakes could help people create a sense stability by reminding them of their personal identity outside of work. Story continues below this advertisement”The objects can serve as silent sources for strength and sentimental values and emotional control, which helps them create a home of comfort and belonging,” he explained. Dr Krishna also explained that placing plants near entrances can create a calming effect. He said that they create a smooth transition between the outside and the inside, and offer a sense peace, order and emotional safety, while symbolising growth, positivity and peace in many cultures. He said that such symbols could create a peaceful environment, encourage reflection, and reduce stress by serving visual reminders to take a break in a busy day. From a design standpoint, they can help create a peaceful corner or contemplative atmosphere. In many homes, meaning and ritual elements create peace through their connection with the object,” explained Dr Krishna.

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It may seem simple to check your blood pressure at the comfort of your own home. Just wrap the cuff around the arm, press the button and take note of the readings. According to Dr PramodTripathi, even small habits can cause readings to be distorted. In an Instagram video he listed “Extremely Common 10 Mistakes People Make While Checking BP At Home, Telling Them From Bottom To Top For Easy Memory (sic). His advice is surprisingly useful but easy to overlook. He begins with posture. “Number 1, keeping your feet in the air is incorrect. Keep your feet flat on the floor. Number two, crisscrossing your feet can also increase your BP. “Number 3, keep your bladder full. Always empty your bladder before you check your BP.” Even the back support can affect readings. The number four mistake is to keep your back straight and upright. You should keep your spine relaxed. Clothing and cuff placement is another common mistake. “Number five: Always fold the clothes under the cuff. Number six, place the tube on the inside and not the outside. Number seven, support your arm at the level of the heart. Not below, nor above. “Number 8, avoid talking when you are taking your blood pressure. Number nine, you must drink tea or coffee at least 30 minutes before checking your blood pressure. Number 10, not being stressed, or having exercised after. You must be relaxed. When taking BP, take two readings and average them. The ideal BP is below 130/80.” “The upper reading is called systolic,” he explains. If your BP is rising, which is diastolic, this could be a sign that the arteries are becoming stiffer as you age. If your lower BP rises, this is diastolic. This means that the smaller arteries away from the heart also get tighter due to more insulin or sympathetic nerve system stimulation. This is stress or sodium. If the difference between your upper and lower BPs is greater than 60, it could lead to heart problems. Let me know if you need any more videos on managing blood pressure. But before you do, avoid these 10 mistakes.”Story Continues Below This AdHow much can small errors in posture and positioning alter blood pressure measurements?Kanikka malhotra is a consultant dietician and diabetes education. She told indianexpress.com that “Posture errors and positioning errors can drastically change home blood pressure results, often by 5-20mmHg. That’s enough for hypertension to be misdiagnosed or masked.” Slouching can increase systolic blood pressure by 6-10mmHg because of increased cardiac workload. Crossed or dangling legs can increase systolic pressure by 4-8 mmHg due to the reduced venous return. Hydrostatic pressure can cause readings to spike by 10-20 mmHg when an arm is positioned below the heart level.
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She says that the most important factor is to keep the feet flat on a floor with the knees and thighs at 90 degrees and the back supported by a chair. “Always use an upper arm that is bare and positioned at the heart level. No tight clothing should be worn.” A proper setup can help prevent false positives of 15-30%, which allows for accurate self-monitoring,” says Malhotra. If you have consistently high readings at home, it is time to consult a doctor. Early intervention can help prevent serious health problems such as stroke or heart disease. Check your blood pressure two times daily (morning & evening) after you have sat quietly for 5 minutes. Seek medical advice if the weekly average is higher than 135/85mmHg or if readings are frequently above 140/90mmHg. This can include lifestyle changes, such as dietary changes, increased activity or medication. If you have a reading over 180/120 mmHg seek immediate emergency care, especially if it is accompanied by dizziness or severe headaches, chest pains, or breathlessness,” says Malhotra. She recommends taking readings twice a day for a week to distinguish between a temporary spike due to stress, caffeine or measurement errors and sustained hypertension. Calculate the average and ignore obvious outliers. Temporary spikes are more likely to fluctuate, and correlate with triggers. However, sustained hypertension remains elevated under ideal conditions. “Keep a written journal to identify patterns, and share it with the doctor. If clinic anxiety is suspected, they may recommend ambulatory monitoring (24-hour monitoring). Early detection is crucial. Avoid self-adjusting medications without professional guidance. Disclaimer: This article was based on public domain information and/or experts we spoke with. Consult your doctor before beginning any new routine.

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Pooja on being single and quitting alcohol (Source: Express Archive Photo)After her divorce from her husband in 2014, Pooja has spoken openly about living a life which is both independent and deeply satisfying. She said that her journey was “glorious” when reflecting on it. I am enjoying being single. I have been in relationships since I was 16 years old. I am free as a crow now. I am the captain my own ship. I am the captain of my own ship. I love the world so much. I have cats, friends, books, and my craft. I am a nomad and I travel often. I want to be free to grab my bag and leave whenever I please. I discovered gymming when I was 50. My gym is now my temple. Her words capture the shift that many people experience in later life, moving from a relationship-defined identity to a self-directed, joyous sense of purpose. She told Times of India that she will always be someone to celebrate love. I have friends who have been married 40 years, and others who have been divorcés four times. I don’t feel like I’m missing anything. For the first time, I feel complete. It took me a while to realize that it’s not just about finding the perfect person, but also about being the perfect person. I stopped drinking alcohol eight and half years ago. It was easy to quit alcohol, but once you do, you realize what you were running from when you used that drink as a painkiller. Love is no exception. “How does long-term dependency on a relationship shape one’s self-identity? Gurleen Baruah is an Existential Psychotherapist with That Culture Thing. She told indianexpress.com that there is no fixed way to look at this. Everyone is different, so everyone will respond differently. “People who leave long-term relationships for singledom do so for their own reasons.” She notes that, in this case, Pooja Bhatt shared, it reflects a growth in happiness, and a focus on quality relationships, rather than simply being in one. It really depends on where the person is at in their life, what they want and what feels healthy for them. I’m not sure if being “complete” should be a goal that is set in stone. Baruah says that humans “are wired to experience emotions through life; there is an ebb-and-flow.””We have the hedonic cycle, where happiness and satisfaction return to a baseline. Completeness may not be permanent or even necessary. Baruah says it may be about being able sit with uncertainty while still feeling okay within yourself. “There is awareness.” After awareness and acknowledgment, you can begin to change. This change is about taking control of your life, making decisions with intention, and developing an internal locus-of-control rather than relying externally on ways to cope.

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Five bird species that were long thought to be “missing” in the wild have been rediscovered by 2025. This is a major boost for conservation efforts around the world. According to the Lost Birds List’s latest update, these species were undocumented in the wild, unheard or unseen for more than a decade. The return of these birds is a reminder to us that “missing does not always mean extinct”. Many birds disappear from records due to remote habitats, limited research, or declining populations rather than complete extinction.Rediscoveries like these play a crucial role in conservation. They can help scientists reassess the status of species, identify habitats that need protection, and inspire renewed efforts for biodiversity. These discoveries are not only exciting for birdwatchers, but also vital for conservationists who work to protect fragile eco-systems. Bismarck KingfisherAfter thirteen years without a confirmed site, the vibrant Bismarck Kingfisher in Papua New Guinea was photographed in May of 2025. The bird, which is known for its striking plumage and had eluded scientists for over a year, was a major discovery for ornithologists. Biak MyzomelaBiak Myzomela (Photo: Mehd Halaouate/searchforlostbirds.org)This tiny honeyeater was documented again after 21 years on Biak Island in Indonesia. Biak Myzomela was absent for 21 years, which raised concerns about the species’ survival. However, its recent sighting gives renewed hope. Broad-billed FairywrenRediscovered in March 2025 in the mountainous regions of West Papua, this species had not been recorded for 11 years. Photographs and sound recordings confirmed the species’ presence, providing valuable information for future studies. Sulu CuckooshrikeThis bird was found again in November 2025 on the Sulu Archipelago in the Philippines. It had been unrecorded in 18 years. This rediscovery highlights the rich biodiversity of the region, and the need to continue conservation efforts. Story continues below this advertisement. This elusive flycatcher, last documented 17 years ago on Luzon Island, was photographed in March of 2025. The return of this flycatcher has sparked an interest in further surveys.
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