In a time of constant hustle, dashing from meeting to meeting, bombarded by the overwhelming stress of well, everything, taking time for ourselves has never been more important.
Sure, you say, we’d all like more time to ourselves, but that’s easier said than done these days.
Au contraire, dear reader – taking just two hours out of your day to just ‘be’ can have a massive effect on your life overall.
New research commissioned by Lenovo revealed half (52%) of the nation struggle to find more than an hour to enjoy ‘me time’ at least three days a week – with 25-34-year-old respondents admitting, on average, they only have more than an hour to themselves three days a week.*
And it may come as little surprise that work can often spill into personal time, especially for millennials, with 25% saying they answer work emails outside of normal working hours at least five days a week (Deloitte, May 2023)**.
In the survey, 30% of millennials were found to be ‘exhausted’, with levels of burnout increasing from 45% to 49% between this year and last.
The solution? Well, according to the data collected by OnePoll on behalf of Lenovo in September, the desired amount of time for a daily dose of ‘me time’ is two hours.*
This is where Lenovo can help busy commuters make the most of finding two hours a day to be ‘extremely you’.
Being ‘extremely you’ can truly be anything that brings joy and an escape from the rat race (whatever that race looks like for you).
It could be as simple as a 45-minute workout followed by catching up on an episode of your favourite series (or that binge-worthy show everyone is talking about right now), but above all, taking adequate time out can help improve mental well-being as well as bring more satisfaction to your day.
Coach, and host of Calmer You Podcast, Chloe Brotheridge, insists taking time for ourselves isn’t a privilege – it’s a necessity, and there are loads of positive benefits of taking two hours a day to unapologetically do you.
‘Life can feel like a juggle, with many of us trying to balance work, family life, social life and our hobbies in an increasingly fast-paced world,’ says Chloe. ‘Having two hours a day for yourself isn’t just a luxury; it’s a necessity for both mental and physical well-being. This dedicated time acts as a reset button, helping to lower stress levels, enhance focus, prevent burnout and enjoy life.’
How Lenovo's Tab Extreme can help you find your groove
With a large 14.5” 3K OLED display delivering stunning contrast, colours, and brightness, you can simply kick back and enjoy some much-needed downtime.
From watching the latest episodes of a binge-worthy series or intense gameplay, to embracing your inner artist with the Lenovo Tab Extreme and Lenovo Precision Pen 3, you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to ways to embrace some quality TLC time.
For those who work from a tablet, the Tab Extreme features an ergonomic design with 16 functional shortcuts, making it one step easier to complete tasks. And when it’s time to unwind, the innovative dual-hinge design doubles as a stand for hands-free viewing. So you can switch from work to play and back again, squeezing in some much needed ‘me time’ into your busy day.
Lenovo is on a mission to help those of us who are time-poor (hello fellow millennials) to find the right tools to take much-needed time out every day and its Tab Extreme may be the answer.
You can experience up to 12 hours of streaming on a single charge, and with its portability features, the Android™-powered tablet is designed to help you take your own sweet time, whether that’s catching up on TV, enjoying some sketching or getting the chance to zen out listening to music, anywhere you go.
Rest is productive and essential for feeling and performing our best, with Chloe adding: ‘Taking time for yourself can activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which helps to lower cortisol levels, the hormone associated with stress.
Chloe Brotheridge’s top tips to squeeze in time for yourself every day
Have an hour of power: Getting up a little earlier to have an ‘hour of power’ could help you to start your day right. The quiet morning hours can be the perfect time to focus on you, with fewer distractions. Use this time to meditate, read, or try an online exercise class without even needing to leave your house.
Schedule time for you: Make ‘me time’ non-negotiable by putting it in your diary and treating it with the same importance as a meeting with a VIP. Whether it’s a night on the sofa with the latest show or pursuing your hobbies like sketching or action-packed gaming.
Relax on the go: Instead of replying to emails on the train home from work, enjoy a few episodes of your favourite series on your tablet so you can properly switch off from the day and arrive home feeling relaxed.
The Pomodoro technique: This time management method involves breaking your work into 25-minute chunks by setting a timer and focusing exclusively on one task, followed by a short break. It can help you be more productive, so your work doesn’t spill over into your free time, and you can chill in the evening.
Set boundaries: Many of us have difficulty saying no and end up overcommitting. Learn to say no to tasks or commitments that don’t align with your goals or well-being so you can prioritise ‘me’ time. Setting boundaries is key to avoiding burning out. If you struggle to say no to someone’s face, let them know you’ll check your diary and come back to them. It will allow you to consider whether to say yes or no – or formulate your excuse!
‘In this “rest and digest” mode of the nervous system, digestion improves, and the process of repairing and renewing cells is accelerated. Mental functions like concentration and memory can improve as your brain also gets a chance to relax and recharge.’
Chloe adds: ‘Plus, lower stress levels are also associated with a healthier immune system, a slower rate of ageing and a lowered risk of many diseases.’
She says we should be looking at time to ourselves as an investment that doesn’t just make us more productive and efficient in our work and personal life but will also help us become calmer and happier, noting we become ‘a better friend, parent, partner, boss or colleague’.
We’ll take that!
Discover Lenovo’s Tab Extreme here and feel inspired to take two hours a day to be extremely you.
*Research conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Lenovo, 2,000 British adults aged 18+, in September 2023.
**https://www2.deloitte.com/uk/en/pages/press-releases/articles/two-thirds-of-uk-gen-zs-and-millennials-opt-for-remote-and-hybrid-working.html
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