WOMEN SPECIAL...... Why it’s important to have ‘me’ time

Why it’s important to have ‘me’ time     Our lives are entwined with the endless routines that we follow every day. There are days when we don’t even find time to eat in peace. In such a scenario, stress is bound to creep in. One of the best solutions, say experts, is to indulge in some ‘me’ time.     Dr Shalini Anant, clinical psychologist, says, “If you ignore yourself for a long time, it can actually take a toll on your mental as well as physical health. It can lead to lack of concentration and disorientation. A lot of negative thoughts keep troubling us, hence there should be times when we need to just be by ourselves.”     Psychologist Dr Malay Dave adds, “Spending some alone time helps you understand and develop certain abilities. In fact, it works wonders in times of crisis since it helps you come out with out-of-thebox solutions. Although some feel that spending quality time with family or rearranging your wardrobe could help, they are wrong. There are certain situations in life when you just need to talk to yourself and no one other than your conscience can help you.”     Fear, anxiety and unfulfilled dreams start occupying our mind, people start thinking about things they haven’t achieved or what life could have been. “One should ideally spend at least half an hour with themselves. You can read, work out, listen to music, etc. However, the best thing to do is nothing — just sit by yourself and think. It’ll stop you from being judgmental about yourself,” adds Shalini. If not every day, one should spend some ‘me’ time at least four to five times a week.     Many women seem to have trouble even feeling like they are worthy of being put on their own list of priorities. “I used to think of it the same way until I had a nervous breakdown last year. We deserve this private time. Look at it this way — taking care of yourself will make you a better parent, partner and person. You’ll be more fun to be around and more responsive to your family,” says homemaker Naina Fernandes. 5 WAYS TO FIND TIME FOR YOURSELF Plan your ‘me’ time, don’t expect it to appear magically Consider it as an important appointment, like that of a doctor’s Treat yourself. It’s not a crime to have fun by yourself Make a list of things you like doing, keep a day for every like Lastly, pamper yourself by doing ‘nothing’ at times  Srishti Ghosh Shinde BT131126