Table of Contents
Why is me time important?
1. Reduce stress
2. Improve memory and creativity
3. Reduce the risk of burnout
How to insert Me Time in the midst of a busy schedule
1. Find the little moments
2. Combine it with existing habits
3. Practice the ability to set boundaries
4. Schedule such an important appointment
Jakarta, goldensamoyed Indonesia
—
In the midst of the fast-paced rhythm of life, many people still feel guilty when they want to distance themselves from their children,
couple
, or friends.In fact, according to mental health experts, giving yourself space is not a form of egoism, but rather a basic need so that the brain can rest and function optimally again.
Neuropsychologist Sanam Hafeez, explains that “me time” works as a natural protection for mental health.
“The brain can only be in a reactive state for a certain time before finally getting tired,” he said
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When we continue to respond to demands, messages, or work, the stress circuit remains active, causing the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain that regulates focus and decision making, to decline in performance.As a result, focus decreases, emotions easily explode, and small things feel much bigger.
Why is me time important?
Hafeez said that short breaks without stimulation can actually help the brain ‘reset’.Research shows that mental rest restores the default mode network, an internal system of the brain that activates when we are daydreaming or not engaged in a hard task.
This network plays a role in reflection, creativity, and problem solving.
When the brain gets a break, stress hormones decrease, the ability to regulate emotions improves, and thoughts become clearer.Hafeez emphasized that the main function of time itself is not to escape from problems, but rather to recover.
Here are some of the benefits of me time for mental health:
1. Reduce stress
Taking time alone lowers cortisol levels and calms the amygdala, the part of the brain that triggers anxiety.Even short breaks in a calm atmosphere can help stabilize the nervous system.
2. Improve memory and creativity
When the brain stops processing external demands, the default mode network switches back on.It improves clarity of thinking, strengthens memory, and sparks creative ideas that may be blocked when the brain is overloaded.
3. Reduce the risk of burnout
Burnout is not just prolonged stress, this condition can make a person lose the ability to carry out basic functions.Clinical counselor Karla Ivankovich said that regular me time has been proven to reduce symptoms of anxiety and the risk of burnout.
Research on health workers shows that structured self-care practices can significantly reduce burnout scores.
How to insert Me Time in the midst of a busy schedule
Many people feel that me time is a luxury that is impossible to obtain.In fact, this time can be found in the small gaps of everyday life.Consistency is more important than duration.
1. Find the little moments
Instead of waiting for a full hour that may never come, Hafeez suggests finding a small break, five minutes of deep breathing, taking a short walk, writing a short journal, or reading a few pages of a book.
2. Combine it with existing habits
The habit stacking method helps me time feel easier to do.For example, spend part of your commute without looking at your phone, add breathing exercises to your morning coffee, or listen to calming music when you get home from work.
3. Practice the ability to set boundaries
Small but clear boundaries can help maintain mental space.For example, the first 10 minutes after waking up are free from requests, or 10 minutes before going to sleep without interruption.
Ivankovich also suggests limiting gadgets, saying ‘no’ when necessary, and making short transition breaks such as sitting two minutes in the car before entering the house.
4. Schedule such an important appointment
Block 10-20 minutes of time on your calendar and treat it as an appointment that can’t be interrupted.According to Ivankovich, this change in mindset makes me time no longer an optional choice, but part of self-care that must be fulfilled.
(tis/tis)
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