Want to enjoy some me-time? Yes, you do. Should you feel guilty about it? Why should you - many women ask today, not giving a damn of what others say.

With our overflowing calendar of events, and a constant buzz of stress, anxiety, burnout, me-time becomes an important reset button. From a state of doing too much, talking too much, to a state of just being by oneself silently can be a liberating experience. It’s like a deliberate pause, a time for quiet reflections, an opportunity for introspection.

While both alone-time and loneliness describe states of being without others, they represent vastly different internal experiences.

In a world that constantly asks and demands deadlines and targets, getting some solo time with oneself gives us an opportunity to reflect. It is not an escape from reality but understanding reality more effectively. It is about treating yourself and enjoying your own company. It does not have to be a grand something but could be the simple pleasure of having a coffee in a café to nourish yourself.

Arpita Chatterji, voice trainer, Kolkata, says that she has been doing this for a long time. “Social media scrolling can also be a form of relaxation, but true me- time involves a more conscious engagement with our inner world thereby rejuvenating us.” She goes out to cafes or restaurants treating herself but never forgets to get food packed for her husband. “He doesn’t like going out but wants me to enjoy my space. So, it’s ok. It’s a lesson in self-support and self-sufficiency,” she feels.

Journaling your thoughts, meditating for a few minutes, enjoying a cup of tea in silence, reading a captivating book, savouring a meal alone at home or outside, even solo dancing all by yourself in the living room can offer you moments of mindful enjoyment.

Psychologists also reiterate that it strengthens one’s mental and emotional capital. By making time for yourself, with yourself, by yourself, you are nurturing your own well-being.

In a world that often celebrates constant connection and bustling schedules, the concept of preference for being alone can sometimes be misunderstood or even looked at suspiciously, says Meera Dami, a school teacher in Kolkata. But far from being a sign of loneliness, it is a rejuvenation period. “I need that time, my own time when I can just do nothing. And what better ambience than a small café or a diner?”

Solitude transforms into strength and discovery, say many Indian women. Photo: ChatGPT Recreation

Ridhima Ghosh, an entrepreneur from Delhi, agrees that ‘alone time’ can sometimes invite an unpleasant interpretation.  “I see women walking in groups, walking together to the washrooms or for theatre and movies. This demonstrates a kind of dependence – a herd mentality, perhaps. Being on one’s own isn’t about isolation from others, but rather a deliberate choice to feel independent and confident to be comfortable with yourself.”

Chitra Gandhi, a writer from Mumbai, says that she needs to walk alone or sit alone to think and analyse. “I can’t be with people all the time; a cup of tea or coffee all by myself is the best companion at such times.”

Traveling alone, I feel a deep sense of power and freedom — an independent Indian woman charting her own course, unbound by expectations and unapologetically myself.

Every journey becomes a celebration of my individuality, where solitude transforms into strength and discovery.

Bengaluru-based textile engineer Maiyankini Bose, who often travels solo on holidays, says there is a deep sense of power and freedom too in spending me-time or travelling solo —as an independent Indian woman charting my own course, I can be unapologetically myself.

"Me-time and solo journeys become a celebration of my individuality, where solitude transforms into strength and discovery," she says.

A thought echoed by Nighat Kazmi from Kashmir, also a writer, who says, “This is the time when many people find clarity, solve problems, or simply allow their minds to wander.”

Social interactions, even positive ones, can be draining. Stepping away helps one in preventing burnout and anxiety.

Sumita Banerjea, an author and an educator finds alone time to be a meaningful exercise for introspection and self-awareness. It is a time free of external judgement, interference, validation and permission, she feels.

It is important to deepen your relationship with yourself, getting to know yourself before you know others.

In a noisy world, carving out these pockets of solitude isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity. Cherished solitude as against unwanted isolation.