Everyone wants to live a balanced life: happy, healthy, and productive. The best part is that everyone got 24h hours. If we put the 8h-rule into an equation, it simply means how you can divide your 24h into 3 components to live a balanced life.
Here I will break down the 24h in 8h chunks to understand how the rule works.
At least 8 hours of sleep
Physicians recommend at least 8h of sleep each day. I can understand that everyone can function in different hours of sleep. For example, I always sleep between 6 and 7 hours, and if I sleep more than 7 hours, I feel groggy all day. You need to find out your optimum point of sleeping. How many hours of sleep do you need every day? I write a lot on this topic. Here is an excellent article on the science of sleep.
I recommend prioritizing your sleep; at least get 8 hours of sleep. We all know that a great night’s sleep will boost energy levels to perform well all day.
8 hours to work
I always follow the Pareto Principle at work or in my daily life. The Pareto principle is as follow:
80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes.
Pareto principle
Our 80% results come from the 20% of tasks we do every day at work. We can generalize the Preto principle and implement the 80–20 rule in our daily life. You will be astonished that almost everything follows pretty much the same rule for maximum productivity.
As Carl Port says in his book Deep Work, follow a specific work strategy. When you start working, absolutely remove every possible distraction or temptation from the equation and focus on one task at a time.
I use the Pomodoro technique in 50 minutes intervals. You can start with 25 minutes interval then increase your stamina to focus.
8 hours for you to explore
For a great work-life balance and excellent mental health, it’s critical to have time for ourselves, family, and friends. So many people have different kinds of hobbies to enjoy their free time. I am prioritizing this year to give more time to family and focus on my writing. I write because it makes me happy and boosts my neurons to make new connections for my well-being.
I would suggest adding an outdoor activity in your free time. I prefer to walk in the mountains, as I live close to the hill station. You can go for a walk alone, with your dog, or take your partner and/or friends with you.
Pro tip: The last 8 hours of your time is all about focusing on your life what you want from it. I don’t feel that I have a great day if I don’t add a 3–5 miles walk, hike, or running session. It gives me joy.
The main idea is to live a balanced life: 8 hours sleep, 8 hours work, and 8 hours leisure.
As I also mentioned, everyone has 24h, don’t squander your time. Try to create your own work-life balance equation. Then follow a disciplined life to make use of the time. Time is gold; use yours wisely.
Key takeaways
- First and the most critical element — prioritize sleep and try to go to bed at the same time each day
- Your leisure time is really important: spend in nature, with family and friends
- Overwork can frail your health and relationships; follow the 80/20 rule to get things done
Balance is not something you find, it’s something you create.
— Jana Kingsford
Thank you for reading!
