My life used to revolve around school. My common phrases included “I have too much homework” and “I’m too busy to go out.” I would eventually burn myself out about two months into school due to work-overload and lack of motivation. Why am I doing this? What’s the point? I was scared to receive a low grade, yet regretted missing out on fun activities. Finally, I decided that having fun once in awhile will not kill me academically. It took me years to realize that “Me Time” is just as important as my education. Once I started managing my time and including other activities into my schedule, I actually saw an improvement in my schoolwork. I did not feel as burnt-out by academics, and I had motivators to get my work done.

You deserve to unwind and have fun. Having “Me Time” gives you time to relax. It can help you relieve stress from the day and focus on what makes you happy.

It helps you meet new people. Joining clubs and other communities helps you find others with similar interests. Also, these people may have a similar schedule to your own, and it can be a good way to find time to socialize, even with the busiest schedule.

It can do wonders for your mental health. Time for yourself can grant you motivation to keep working hard. It prevents burning yourself out and falling into a slump. Stress can build up and cause immense damage to our emotional and mental health; setting aside time for hobbies and relaxation can reduce stress.

Academics is only a fraction of your life. I’m not saying that everyone should spend their days solely having fun and not doing their work. Basically, setting aside a few minutes of your day to do something for yourself can help in so many ways. School is only one part of your life, and you need to do set aside time to benefit you: meditate for 5 minutes, talk to a friend on the phone for 10 minutes, watch your favorite TV show for 30 minutes. It is extremely important to make time for yourself in order to perform to the best of your ability in all other aspects of your life.