I always wonder when someone uses this word me-time, since Covid this term has become the favorite jargon whenever someone is talking about work-life balance. We all share similar fast-paced world around us, where work deadlines, family responsibilities, and social obligations take up most of our time. Many people believe that taking time for oneself is a luxury, something that only the privileged can afford, some give too much importance to me-time that they ignore the near-dear ones. However, I believe that —me-time is not just a break but a balanced way through which we replenish our mind, body and emotions.

I have tried to capture some figurative images from different walks of life, including a businessman, a service professional, and a housewife, they are real people around me and I have seen how effectively they use me-time without impacting emotions of anyone or their work.

What is Me-Time?

Me-time refers to a period you dedicate solely to yourself—away from professional duties, family obligations, and social engagements. It is the time when you engage in activities that help you relax, rejuvenate, and reconnect with yourself. It could be as simple as sipping coffee in silence, reading a book, taking a walk, meditating, or indulging in a hobby.

The Housewife: The Silent Multitasker

This is one job, I personally feel is the most difficult one, and no one realises the effort and pain the lady of the house goes through who is just managing each and every person of the house , keeping her needs at the last. From cooking, cleaning, and managing kids’ school schedules to handling grocery shopping and family responsibilities, her day is packed with tasks.

Unlike a job with fixed hours, her work never ends. She often feels invisible, as no one truly acknowledges the amount of effort she puts in. She rarely gets a moment to herself, and the absence of personal space leads to frustration and emotional fatigue.

I have met many ladies who go through this fatigue cycle and struggle in getting basic recognition and sustaining their individual identity. But recently I met Sunita, she changed my perspective of time-management and how a house-wife can just be valued. She was married when she was just 19 years old and now its almost 40 years she has been handling this portfolio with grace and poise, she is known by her name, not by being just Mrs. Agarwal. I asked her Sunita , how do you do it, she smiled and said, I ran from my parents house to get married to the love of my life, we were too young just graduate and we didn’t had any family support. So I had to be housewife and my husband had to earn with few odd jobs, it was really tough doe the first 5 years of our marriage, in which I used to feel that I made biggest mistake of my life by getting married to him.

Then one day I was crying in the stairs when my landlady saw me , she took me to her flat which was downstairs and heard my story and frustration, after one hour she said, so what choice you want to make now? I said I don’t know, she said their is nothing such as I don’t know, we all know, we just fear from making that choice. I felt something moved within me during that conversation, then for next couple of days I kept talking to her till the day I realised that it’s me who need to love myself the first and slowly everything started falling in place. I just changed two things in life , one i started going for walk each day for 1 hour and sit with nature. Secondly, I kept picking hobbies one after another.

Soon, I noticed a transformation in my mood and energy. I felt happier and more connected with myself. My relationships with my husband and children improved, as I was no longer reacting from a place of exhaustion but rather from a place of contentment.

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Caught in the Web of Success

It was 8am in morning as I was at airport ordering my first black coffee of the day, thinking to find a peaceful corner to sit in the coffee shop and read, as I ordered one person standing next to me said, why do you want to start your day with bitter taste, take something sweet with it to munch. I looked back and I saw a very old-acquaintance of my dad, I smiled and greeted him. It was a great surprise to meet him after almost 20 years, he still looked younger that my father though he is similar age. As we both sat down talking and going down the memory lane, I saw him vibrating at a very high energy level. As a writer I am always in search of a story, so I asked him uncle last I know that you had been unwell for sometime and then I couldn’t know much about you, and today when I am meeting you , you look completely different person.

He said, I am happy to see you have a very strong people insight, let me tell you a small story if you have sometime, I was all-in to hear, he started, dear we all feel success always comes at a price. I was always chasing the next deal, the next milestone, the next big opportunity. As the founder of a thriving company, my days started before sunrise and stretched long into the night. Emails, meetings, calls—it never stopped. I was constantly traveling, attending conferences, negotiating deals, managing teams.

From the outside, I had it all. But inside, I felt exhausted, irritable, and drained. My sleep was a mess, my stress levels skyrocketed, and my relationships—both with myself and my family—suffered. I told myself this was normal, that success demanded sacrifice. But deep down, I knew something was wrong.

Then, one day, my body sent me a warning. A minor health scare—nothing too serious, but serious enough to shake me. The doctor’s advice was simple: slow down before it’s too late.

I decided to make a change. Just one hour a day. No emails, no work, no calls. I started going for morning walks—just me and the crisp air, without my phone buzzing in my pocket. I practiced mindfulness, something I had always dismissed as a luxury. Before bed, instead of scrolling through reports, I picked up a book I had long forgotten.

The impact was incredible. My stress levels dropped, my mind felt clearer, and surprisingly, I became more efficient at work. I had more patience, more creativity. My conversations with my family weren’t rushed anymore—I was present.

And finally, he concluded by saying : I used to believe that success meant never stopping. But I’ve learned that sometimes, stepping away—even for a little while—makes all the difference

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Trapped in the 9-to-9 Cycle

My neighbourhood is all about young software professionals, whom I hardly see, one day as i was walking in the courtyard i saw a really happy face, we exchanged greetings and we instantly connected, when I heard her story I felt so moved, with her high vibrating frequency so I asked her, what’s your secret and she shared, Didi I used to think I had it all figured out. A stable job, a decent paycheck, and a career in one of the most sought-after fields—software engineering. But somewhere along the way, my life stopped feeling like my own.

My day would start at 9 AM, but it never really ended. Deadlines, client calls, and an endless stream of emails stretched my working hours far beyond what was healthy. By the time I logged off, I had nothing left in me. I was too drained to pick up a book, too exhausted to go for a walk, and too numb to even enjoy the music I once loved. Weekends weren’t any better—I was either buried in household chores or trying to fix relationships that felt just as strained as I did.

Then, one day, something shook me to my core. A colleague—someone I had worked with for a year—took her own life. I couldn’t process it. It felt like a wake-up call, yet for days, I simply sulked, drowning in guilt, fear, and exhaustion. Was I heading down the same road? Was this all life had to offer?

Something had to change.

I decided to start small. Just 30 minutes for myself every day. No work, no obligations—just me. I began waking up a little earlier to sit on my balcony with a quiet cup of tea, feeling the morning breeze instead of scrolling through emails. At night, I started journaling, pouring out my tangled thoughts onto paper instead of letting them consume me.

Slowly, something shifted. I felt less anxious, more in control. One evening, on a whim, I picked up a paintbrush—something I hadn’t done in years. And in that moment, I realized how much of myself I had lost in the chaos.

That small act of carving out time for myself changed everything. I became happier, more present, and surprisingly, even more productive at work. It wasn’t about quitting my job or making drastic changes. It was about setting boundaries, about choosing myself every single day—because no job, no deadline, and no expectation is worth losing yourself over.

Now the question comes Why Do People Avoid Me-Time?

Despite its benefits, people often hesitate to take me-time due to:

1. Guilt – Many feel selfish for prioritizing themselves over work or family.
2. Lack of Time – With packed schedules, me-time seems like a luxury.
3. Conditioning – Society often praises self-sacrifice, making personal time seem unnecessary.
4. Productivity Pressure – Many feel that if they are not working, they are wasting time.

How to Incorporate Me-Time in a Busy Schedule?

1. Start Small – Even 10-15 minutes a day can make a difference.
2. Set Boundaries – Turn off notifications and inform family or colleagues when you need uninterrupted time.
3. Schedule It – Treat it like an important meeting and stick to it.
4. Choose Activities That Rejuvenate – Whether it’s meditation, reading, walking, or simply doing nothing, pick what makes you feel good.
5. Learn to Say No – Decline unnecessary commitments that take up personal time.

Me-time is not a selfish act; in fact, it enhances productivity, relationships, and overall well-being. A well-rested mind can give more to work and loved ones than an exhausted one.