The steam was rising in elegant curls from two cups of ginger chai placed on a rotating dining table. Across me was Mr. Padhi. For the past three years, we had just been a LinkedIn profile photo and a series of insightful WhatsApp messages. We had exchanged digital pleasantries, shared articles, and commented on each other’s posts. We were “connected,” as the digital world calls it.

But that evening was different. It was the first time the digital connection manifested into a physical reality. There was a momentary awkwardness—the kind that happens when a 2D thumbnail becomes a 3D human being—but it evaporated with the first sip of the home-made Ginger Chai.

For the next ninety minutes, something miraculous happened. Our phones remained face-down on the table—a silent pact we didn’t even need to verbalize. We spoke. Not about earth-shattering business deals or networking strategies, but about life, the rat race, our aging parents, and the strange comfort of old memories from each other’s childhood days and some current life challenges and insights.

When I was saying goodbye to the lovely couple that evening, I felt lighter. I felt touched by empathy and human connection. It was a distinct kind of happiness that a hundred “likes” on my latest post could never provide. It got me thinking about the noisy advice the world keeps throwing at us: “Prioritize yourself,” “Take some ‘Me Time’,” “Self-care is essential.”

While the intention behind this advice is noble, I think we’ve lost the plot somewhere along the way. I would name it the: ‘Me Time’ Trap.

Don’t get me wrong. A little solitude is necessary. We all need those quiet 15 minutes in the morning with our thoughts, or a solitary walk to decompress. That is asli (real) ‘Me Time’—time for reflection and contemplation.

But let’s be honest. In today’s hyper-connected era, what does ‘Me Time’ usually look like?

For most of us, ‘Me Time’ has conveniently morphed into ‘Screen Time’. We retreat into a corner not to reflect, but to scroll. We replace our own thoughts with the curated feeds of strangers. We aren’t recharging; we are just distracting ourselves. We are alone, together with our devices. That solitary hour spent doom-scrolling isn’t rejuvenating; it’s draining.

What happened between Mr. Padhi and me over that tea was pure, unadulterated, he coins it as ‘We Time’.

‘We Time’ is that sacred space where human relationships take centre stage. It is time spent with another human being—a friend, a spouse, a parent, or even a new acquaintance—where both parties genuinely value the presence of the other.

The beauty of ‘We Time’ is that it is enduring. The information exchange that happens when you look into someone’s eyes is vastly superior to reading a text. You don’t just hear words; you see the slight twitch of a smile, the furrowing of a brow, the hesitation before a confession. You exchange empathy. You build a shared history.

Unlike the fleeting dopamine hit of a digital interaction, the memory of a good, deep conversation sticks. It provides long-term warmth.

This need for genuine ‘We Time’ has never been more critical. We are rapidly entering an era defined by Artificial Intelligence (AI). Our routines, our actions, and increasingly, even our reactions are becoming robotic and algorithm-driven. We are optimizing everything for efficiency. 

AI is fantastic. It can write code, generate images, and schedule our lives. We should absolutely embrace it, but perhaps with a “pinch of salt.” 

Why? Because AI can simulate conversation, but it cannot simulate connection.

AI has data; humans have stories. AI has processing power; humans have empathy. AI has Artificial Intelligence; we have Human Intelligence (HI).

When we spend quality ‘We Time’, completely free of digital intervention, we are exercising our (HI) muscles. We are discovering the depths of another person’s experience, something no Large Language Model (LLM) can replicate. A robot can serve you tea perfectly every time, but it cannot share “the sukoon” (peace) of drinking it with you while complaining about the weather.

The “We time” philosophy isn’t just about looking inward; it’s heavily dependent on looking outward. True happiness is rarely a solitary pursuit. It rebounds off the people we cherish.

The world tells you to book a spa day for ‘Me Time’. I suggest you call an old friend with a surprise hello – and book a table for two instead. The world tells you to disconnect to recharge. I suggest you disconnect from the screen to re-connect with a person.

The next time you feel overwhelmed by the digital noise, don’t just retreat into a solitary shell. Reach out. Find your “we time mate”. Order two cups of tea. Put the phone away and do invest in some quality ‘We Time’.

 Because at the end of the day, the best reflection of yourself is often seen in the eyes of someone who truly listens to you. That connection is the real magic.

My simple mantra for the weekend: Scrub 30 minutes of digital ‘Me Time’ off your schedule this weekend and replace it with 30 minutes of face-to-face ‘We Time’. 

Just try this once and experience the magic it brings in to your life, and boost your happiness with HI (Human Intelligence).

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