Life balance

After so much time in our own homes, many of us have started muttering away constantly – and Emma says it can be helpful

I’m often overheard chatting to myself in the kitchen, sometimes in different accents. I have fullblown conversations with myself, because when I say things out loud, it helps me figure them out. Forget the idea that it’s

“the first sign of madness”, it’s healthy and even a sign of high cognitive functioning. Studies have shown that if you want to learn something new (a speech, say), you are three times more likely to manage it if you speak it out loud, as it helps to embed it into your memory. It also helps you to emotionally process what you are thinking about. When you chat to other people, you gain another perspective, but you can work things through alone too, because when we hear ourselves out loud we can be more objective, which helps us to come up with solutions. Studies have shown that if you want to motivate yourself, speaking affirmations out loud helps, because your brain hears you, and takes it more as a command. Just as there are benefits to selftalk, it is possible to use it negatively; if you are criticising yourself aloud regularly, it is a fair sign that you are struggling with low confidence and self-esteem, so even though there is nothing wrong with speaking out loud, there can be a problem with how you are doing it.

Next time it happens, stop, reframe your thoughts, and say something positive about yourself. The more you do this, the more you will feel it, and after a tough year, such positivity is needed.