The Importance of Me-Time

The 21^st century is defined by technological advancement and groundbreaking innovations, ultimately shifting corporate focus at the hand of these advancements. Bearing the brunt of these advancements are human capital that either adapt or become redundant, creating a workplace of fierce competition. As a result, long-term job security and financial freedom are at the forefront of household concerns. 

According to American Psychological Association (APA)’s 77% of the working class experience work-related stress, and 66% of adults feel money is the biggest contributor. Additionally, a Gallup survey found that roughly 23% of employees experience burnout on a regular basis, highlighting the need for work-life balance (Wirth, 2024). Work-life balance emphasizes the importance of “me-time”, prioritizing personal well-being to reduce stress, improve mental health, and increase productivity. Drawing insights from James Clear’s Atomic Habits, this article explores the importance of “me-time”, discussing how dedicating time to oneself can reduce stress, improve mental health, and ramp-up productivity. Furthermore, exploring how the same principles can be leveraged to cultivate better financial habits. 

The Necessity of Me-Time

Regular “me-time” provide individuals the opportunity to decompress and recharge, reducing overall stress and mental fatigue. Incorporating short breaks into daily routines can significantly reduce stress and provide clarity, aiding clear thinking and better decision-making.  In Atomic Habits, James Clear places emphasis on the power of small contributions and their compounding effect over a longer period of time. To provide context, figure 1 below illustrates both a positive and negative 1% contribution compounded daily over 365 days. The positive contribution equates to a 37-fold improvement, while the negative contribution worsens by a staggering 97%. Parallels can be drawn to how making smart financial decision can either improve your financial position over time through compounding or keep it stagnant through inaction.

Compounding is often hailed as the “eighth wonder of the world” by investors. However, while the compounding effect demonstrates a smooth upward trajectory, the reality is often much more unpredictable and volatile. Just like life, things rarely go according to plan, making self-refection a crucial element to achieve that continuous compounding effect. Figure 2 below illustrates the disparity between reality and expectations; the key to reaching your potential lies in remaining patient and consistent through the inevitable valleys of disappointment. “Me-time” provides the opportunity to self-reflect and build self-awareness, essential building blocks to avoid stagnation. Similarly, individuals that cultivate self-awareness can better understand their risk tolerance, financial goals, and biases, leading to more informed financial decisions.

Contrary to popular belief, more work doesn’t necessarily translate to better quality. More often than not, it leads to diminishing returns due to burnout. Incorporating the short breaks can provide mental resets that often spark fresh ideas and lead to bursts of productivity. James Clear highlights the importance of creating an environment that support positive habits, by deliberately allocating time to mentally reset, you cultivate an environment for enhanced productivity and creativity. This increased efficiency frees up time for other important matters, such as managing finances and investments.  

Practical Ways to Incorporate “Me-time”

1. Scheduling regular breaks: It is essential to know your body. Our bodies have indicators that show when we are stressed, depressed or filled with anxiety, taking necessary breaks to avoid burnouts helps alleviate these conditions. Incorporating breaks into your routine helps with efficiency and focus. At Arysteq we take pride in having dedicated spaces to enjoy breaks in order to unwind and regroup.  
2. Engaging in hobbies: Consistently working in the same environment may lead to someone becoming overstimulated. Engaging in hobbies allows for the left side of the brain to rest, while the right side of the brain becomes more active, allowing for creativity and imagination to thrive which leads to a more positive outlook
3. Mindfulness: Taking 5-10 minutes of silence a day to meditate and reflect, can drastically change your perception of your feelings and reception of feelings from colleagues. Being calm and mindful in any environment can lead to pro-active results and seamless communication. At Arysteq there is a “bubble room” dedicated to quiet time for this specific initiative to create a safe, caring working environment.
4. Physical activities: It is clinically proven that poor physical health are more prone to poor mental health as the two are interlinked. Doing frequent exercises allows for more agile bodily responses and cognitive thinking abilities. Here at Arysteq, our team takes pride at being active as it is engaging and builds confidence, we participate in various sports such as cricket, squash, darts and will take on more sports in the future.
5. Disconnecting from technology: As the new generation would say “touch grass”. We live in a society where our work life and personal life revolves around blue screens. It is imperative to be present amongst your peers and also allow for fresh information to be received by virtue of conversation and observation. Disconnecting from technology helps to drown out the noise and re-aligning yourself as an individual.

At Arysteq Asset Management we have benefitted immensely from higher productivity and employee satisfaction as a result of incorporating “me-time” into our corporate culture.  We believe “me-time’ is more than a luxury, it’s a crucial building block to achieve a positive and well-balanced work environment. While the saying “money never sleeps” haunts most investment professionals, we’ve addressed it with a well-crafted investment process, philosophy, and most importantly corporate culture. Sound minds make the best decisions. Achieving and maintaining this balance is no small feat, it requires continuous effort and a touch of artistry.