Me-time: Feel Guilty of Engaging in It? Try Fitting Tea Into It!

A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

With the above lines, W.H. Davies concluded his poem, Leisure. The above lines are timeless; they continue to resonate in our minds even today. The current times are more frantic than ever with work, domestic and social responsibilities taking a toll on our health and peace of mind. In such a scenario, how many of us ponder and consider me-time a priority too?

Most of the individuals despite understanding the significance of taking out time for themselves from their busier than ever schedules, never actually do so. Here are some of the common reasons that people cite:

With over 10 hours of work on every weekday and pending personal tasks at home, me-time’ is out of the question.

I think ‘me-time’ sounds a bit selfish. I get a sense of guilt by even thinking about it.

Me-time is a matter of luxury rather than a necessity.

Perhaps, generally, people consider me-time as an activity that requires long passages of time, or an immersion into idyllic settings for deep introspection. Let’s bust the myth and understand the benefits of me-time in our life.

Me-time: A peek into the benefits

Water your mind

Let’s consider a simple scenario. You have a small garden outside your home, and your family has entrusted you with the responsibility of watering the plants every day. Let us suppose that owing to your busy lifestyle; you miss watering the plants as per the schedule. What do you think will happen next? Of course, the plants will de-flower, and their growth will be stunted. Well, you are aware of this result, and so, you will ensure that come what may you will take out time to water them regularly. You are well-informed about the consequences of not attending to your plants!

Here’s the analogy – Our minds too need this self-regulated care and attention. The only missing link here is that strangely when it comes to personal attention and care, most of us fail to pay attention to it. Scheduling some me-time is akin to recharge our batteries. As per studies, me-time is important for our health, well-being, and creativity. And so, it is no longer a matter of luxury but an absolute necessity. Neither it is an act of selfishness. Further, it is the quality that counts rather than the amount of time spent. So, you don’t need to invest hours, simply 5 minutes could suffice.

Reasons why physicians and scientists recommend me-time

Revitalises our brains

Helps us de-stress

Improves our concentration

Helps in problem-solving

Makes us more productive

Enhances our relationships

Facilitates better work-life balance

Allows time for introspection and quality thinking

Fosters self-discovery

Use your me-time to focus on activities that matter to you the most. Devote 5-10 minutes per day to meditation, or engage in your favourite activity regularly, be it painting, writing, cycling. Time spent in any activity that can be therapeutic to you and make you feel better could be defined as me-time, as explained in a health blog published by Harvard Medical School. Of course, bingeing on Netflix or making conversations on social media cannot qualify for me-time, as these serve to only entertain you without making any real, healthy contribution to your mind – Remember the ‘watering plants’ analogy raised above!

Me-time: Make a difference in your life

Scenario 1

Meet Shashi Nautiyal, a mother of a 5-year old and a working mother.

Being part of an advertising agency, her work life is tremendously hectic. Her day begins at 5 in the morning and ends at 10 in the evening. With endless meetings and round-the-clock assignments, she works for as many as 55 hours every week. Back home, she ensures that her family’s needs are attended to promptly. She is a caring mother, a dutiful daughter-in-law and a doting wife. She’s the life of her family and an asset at workplace. She epitomises the quintessential modern woman. What’s her idea of me-time? A 30-minute jog in the morning.

Scenario 2

Meet Arun Gosavi, a father of twins and a painter by profession.

His work life doesn’t follow a regular pattern. He may get his creative spurts even at 3 in the morning. So, how does he schedule his me-time regularly? “I step out of my studio every afternoon for an hour’s swim irrespective of the deadlines. It is not easy to follow this regime. Most of the times, I’m so pre-occupied with my assignments or engaged in meetings that skipping swimming is the only option feasible. But swimming to me is as much necessary as air to a human. It declutters my mind and helps me think straight, which is necessary for my art. So, come what may, this is one activity that I just can’t miss.” says Arun.

Scenario 3

Meet Radhika Rao, a Vice President in an MNC and an avid solo motorcycle enthusiast. In a life span of 39 years, she has travelled nearly a quarter of the world. She belongs to the tribe of people who are best described as ‘Been there, done that.’ What constitutes her me-time? “A cup of tea,” quips Radhika.

“To me, tea is more than a daily dose of beverage. It not only helps me focus on my work better, but it also affirms my positive outlook on life. Anytime I get hassled I take a 5-minute break to deep dive into a cuppa of herbal tea. These teas are devoid of caffeine. So, there’s absolutely no risk to my health. It’s easier to prepare them too!

In fact, on many Sundays, I have ridden to the nearby hill station with my kettle only to enjoy my tea in the serenity of the hills. I love slipping into the Boketto and gaze at the clear skies, the raging clouds, and towering cliffs. I love these moments. If not for these, I would have never reached the heights in my career. So many times, that I have been to picnics with my girlfriends, to beaches and mountains, my kettle has been my constant companion. Wherever I go, my me-time enjoys unparalleled attention. My tea is my mojo, clearly.”, says Radhika.

So, what would you like to focus on to refuel your mind? Painting, writing, reading, Tai Chi, yoga – pursuits are endless. Be it any activity; the benefit is the same – greater contentment and better living. And, while you engage in it, a cup of freshly-prepared, warm tea accompanying it may heighten your experience. Wondering how?

“Where there’s tea there’s hope.”
– Arthur Wing Pinero

Tea helps

A notable study published in the scientific journal Food Quality and Preference examines the relation between drinking tea and divergent creativity and lays down a new path to investigate the relation between beverage consumption and human cognition improvement.

Divergent creativity
The cognitive process involved in solving a given problem with unlimited solutions.

Convergent creativity
The cognitive process involved in solving a given problem with only a single solution.

Previous research established that tea directly contributes to improved performance on convergent creativity tasks by inducing a positive mood. However, no inferences were available on the effect of tea on divergent creativity.

The aim of this research was to test the hypothesis: Tea consumption promotes divergent creativity, and this association is mediated by mood, i.e., tea drinking can lead to a positive mood which is beneficial for divergent creativity. The research team conducted two experiments, wherein participants were randomly assigned to two groups and implicitly manipulated to drink tea or water. The results depicted that the participants who drank tea performed better in the spatial creativity task and semantic creativity task in comparison to those who drank water. This research was the first to demonstrate that tea drinking can improve creative performance with divergent thinking.

Another study published in the scientific journal Food Quality and Preference accentuates the fact that tea is associated with mood, relaxation and increased performance.

Tea for inspiration

As you stay invested in your daily me-time, remain invested in the habit of drinking tea. The aforementioned research studies indicate that tea has elements that help boost focus. Nicole Bianchi (@NicoleJBianchi), a writer, copywriter, and storyteller, in one of her articles, elucidates the wonders of tea, making it part of her daily routine.

You need not bother about having a particular time slot to fit tea into your pursuit. Tea is an anytime beverage. You could sip tisanes throughout the day. Or, a chamomile tea could be blissful company while refreshing and rewinding to Jazz in the evening. What matters is that you take upon yourself the onus of being healthy, happy and productive by taking some time off work. And, once you are up with it, leave the rest to tea.

Discover Ono Teas

Ono Teas could be an excellent partner in your me-time. Keep your cup of signature Ono Teas products right beside you while you engage in fulfilling your endeavours. Want to meditate daily? Take a sip of our Pure Chamomile after your session. Want to take a break from work? Sip our Kashmiri Kahwa and take a plunge into the pleasant memories. The world of teas is diverse and huge. Awaken your senses with our Earl Grey, discover the divine taste of our Darjeeling Second Flush, embrace the benefits of our tisanes and invigorate your mind with the ravaging, full-bodied black teas. In life’s moments bright and grey, your cup of tea could be a constant companion. As simple as it sounds, if someone asks you what’s your reason for me-time, let the answer simply be tea.

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Ono Teas handcrafts full leaf teas suiting every moment you want to cherish, whether it is solitude or conversations with friends or just a leisurely health drink to counter lifestyle disorders. You can shop from our range of green teas, black teas, blends or tisanes based on the moment you want to celebrate.

To buy Ono Teas online, visit our website.
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References/Additional Reading

7 Science-Backed Reasons You Should Spend More Time Alone

Me time” sounds good, but when exactly?

Word of the Week: Boketto (v)

Drinking tea improves the performance of divergent creativity

What is Spatial Ability?

Creativity is what we say it is: constructing an ontology of creativity

Investigating the effects of tea, water and a positive affect induction on mood and creativity

How Tea Helps Boost My Focus and Creativity in the Afternoon

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