A day has 24 hours. That sounds like a ton, right? Plenty of time to juggle work, family, health, hobbies, and all those little things we’d love to fit in. But let’s break it down a bit.

Reality Check: Sleep Takes 8 Hours.
Let’s start by pulling out the recommended 8 hours for sleep. That leaves us with 16 hours.

Working for a Living? There Goes Another 8.
Most of us need to work, so let’s subtract another 8 hours. Now we’re down to 8 hours.

The Daily Basics—Hygiene, Food, and Getting Around
Now we factor in the daily necessities: getting ready, eating, doing dishes, quick grocery runs, and commuting. Realistically, this takes about 3 hours. Now we’re at 5 hours.

Life’s In-Between Moments
Even with the essentials covered, we’re human. We need moments to breathe between tasks. Let our brains recharge. Maybe scroll through our phones or just…sit. Let’s allow an hour for this buffer. Now we’re left with 4 hours.

Surprise: A Day Has 4 Hours, Not 24!

So here we are, with just 4 hours left. Four hours to meet all the other big, important parts of our lives:

Kids
Partner
Home
Extended family
Friends
Ourselves

Does 4 hours still sound like a lot? Not so much, right? And for anyone thinking, “What about weekends?”—Nope, I refuse to live my “real life” only two days a week!

The tricky part is that you need to actively decide where these 4 hours go. Otherwise, any one of those priorities can easily take over. Some of us work overtime. Others let parenting fill the hours, from school pickups to helping with homework. Or maybe you dive into self-care—sports, hobbies, Netflix marathons, social media binges.

When Life Just Happens…

For me, when I let things “just happen,” I start feeling frustrated. It seems like something’s always slipping through the cracks. My home becomes a mess, relationships feel neglected, and somehow, my “me-time” is always the first to go.

One choice, of course, is to prioritize or even let go of some commitments. Some choose not to have kids, others prefer fewer social obligations, and some sacrifice time for themselves. But what if you want to make space for it all?

My Solution: Designating Days

Here’s what works for me—at least, most of the time: actively setting aside days for specific priorities. This takes a bit of discipline, but it helps me keep a sense of balance. For example:

Mondays and Fridays: Sports or exercise days
Wednesdays: Date night with my partner
Tuesdays: Family night for movies or games
Saturdays: Social time with friends or family
Thursdays: Girls’ night out

Sounds a little intense, right? But I find that this structure helps me feel like I’m actually in control. Then, at other times, I let things happen as they come. This “go-with-the-flow” approach works for a while, but I usually find myself wanting to organize again after a bit.

How about you? How do you keep life in balance? Any tricks to share, or are you struggling with the same 24-hour puzzle? I’d love to hear how you organize your time!