Lately, I’ve been doing my best to live out the 8+8+8 rule: eight hours for work, eight for rest, and eight for personal life. Sounds simple, right? In reality, it’s much harder to follow. Work demands don’t always clock out when I do, and the stress tends to linger, creeping into my nights and leaving me wide-eyed and restless.
Even when I try to wind down, maybe with instrumental music or a quiet scroll through thoughts shared by others online, there are moments when stress still finds a way in. On some nights, I lie in bed with a tired body and an overthinking mind. It’s in those hours that I remind myself this too is part of the journey.
I’m not aiming for perfection. I’m aiming for presence.
What keeps me going is the mindset of slow, deliberate progress. I’ve come to understand that growth doesn’t always look like big wins. It often looks like getting up despite feeling drained, saying no when I’m on the edge, or allowing myself to breathe deeply after a tough day. Each small act of balance is a quiet rebellion against burnout.
I’ve learned to be more intentional with how I use my time, not just for efficiency but for peace. I’m learning to adapt, to give myself grace, and to treat each day as a step forward even when it doesn’t feel like much.
As Viktor Frankl once said, “When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” That’s what I’m doing, one mindful breath at a time.
Here’s to the quiet efforts, the small wins, and the ongoing journey of balancing work and life with hope tucked gently in between.
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