Why Taking Time for Yourself Isn’t Selfish: The Importance of Me-Time
Verified By
KIMS-SUNSHINE
Specialist,
04 May, 2025
Life can be a lot of things- parenting, work, kids, meetings, school, homework, food prep, paying bills and what not- and the seemingly simple act of taking time off to do nothing or to do something that you enjoy, all by yourself can feel stupid, or downright selfish- because there is so much still left to be done, right? Let us stop you right there- me-time is super important as it helps prevent burn out, reduces stress and helps you connect better with yourself and everyone around you.
The Importance Of Taking Time For Yourself-
Life can be super demanding and things always need to get done- which means your brain needs to keep delegating tasks to different people or different points of time. Some people may gape at the thought of having to sit quietly for a while because they think it seems like a waste of precious time. Most of us are guilty of just sitting down and staring at a screen – because that feels like the time when you expend the least amount of effort. Some of us are guilty of trying to schedule me-time on very busy days, then deny ourselves that very time and then begin to feel angry and helpless about it. This can repeat in the form of a vicious cycle and that can be draining too. If you are constantly giving something away or working, then you are bound to get exhausted. An excellent example is this- in planes, when there is some issue, you are first asked to slip on the oxygen mask on your face first. Only then should you help people around you. This is very similar to the empty cup analogy- think of your capacity to deal with stuff in one day as being finite. Once that volume is done, there is nothing more to pore, and then you get overwhelmed, feel helpless and angry and may take that frustration out on someone else.
Is Taking Time For Yourself Selfish Or Necessary?
Repeat this often- Taking me-time is NOT selfish. It is GOOD for ME! It is NECESSARY for me! This should be your mantra for mental wellness. Some people who don’t respect boundaries may think that you taking time-off is you being selfish- let them think like that. It is not your fault they think that way. Only you can take care of yourself- they won’t help you out when you are in a pinch, right?
The Role Of Me-Time In Reducing Burnout And Stress-
The main ways in which taking some me-time off, on a regular basis can help are as follows-
- You are less stressed and hence feel less burdened.
- You feel more productive and won’t get burnt out that easily
- The human brain is notorious for losing focus often and this can get worse with no free or me-time.
- You begin to concentrate better and can solve problems more quickly, if you are well rested and less stressed.
- A simple but very fundamental aspect of taking some me-time is- it helps you understand how you are doing, who you are and see if you feel satisfied about how you are doing in life. It can also give you the time and space to change things.
- You will have better work-life balance this way too.
Conclusion
Taking some me time off does not have to seem like rocket science with respect to what you should be doing or how to schedule it. It can be as simple as drinking some coffee alone, or reading your favourite book, meditating, doing some yoga, going for a run or walk or going for a spa session. The thing with me-time is – it is important. Scheduling it in the right way is also crucial or you may just skip it and do something else. Taking some me-time is not a bad idea- it is infact one of the best things you can be doing in a day- because the logic is simple- if you don’t take care of yourself, who else will?
