We all get the same 24 hours in a day, or so they say. But what happens when those 24 hours feel more like a countdown than an opportunity? Recently, I found myself in a whirlwind of tasks, deadlines, and emotional exhaustion, and I came to a simple yet profound conclusion: “24 hours just wasn’t enough for me, dude”
The Myth of “Enough Time”
There’s a toxic narrative in hustle culture that insists if you just manage your time better, you can do it all. Work, exercise, social life, passion projects, side hustles, self-care, and sleep. But let’s be honest: even with perfect time management, life doesn’t always cooperate, especially when ur live in this city yash jakarta 🙁
On the day that inspired this reflection, I woke up at 6:00 AM with a to-do list longer than a grocery receipt after payday. There was work to finish, errands to run, emails to reply to, meeting that I should attend, and somehow, I still had to find time to be a friend, a partner, a human being. By the time midnight rolled around, I wasn’t even halfway done.
Between work, health, personal growth, and basic survival (sleeping, eating, commuting), the math simply doesn’t add up. Something always gets sacrificed—and for me, it was usually my well-being. Sh*t ya reality sucks sometimes 🙁
Productivity vs. Capacity
There’s a difference between being productive and having the mental or emotional capacity to do everything. I wasn’t wasting time scrolling through my phone or binge-watching TV, even I don’t have TV on my room haha.
I was genuinely trying and failing to keep up. My mind was overwhelmed, my body was tired, and my soul? Quietly screaming for rest.
I realized that it wasn’t just about poor planning — it was about unrealistic expectations. I had scheduled my day like I was a machine, forgetting that humans need breathing room. Sh*t
The Challenge of Balancing Life
After work, my day was far from over. I had obligations waiting for me at home. Study and managing household chores consumed precious hours. By the time I settled down, it was already late, and I felt a pang of guilt for not dedicating enough time to personal interests or self-care.
I longed for the days when I could indulge in hobbies like reading or painting, but fatigue often won, and I found myself collapsing onto the bed, too tired to do anything.
My Emotional Weight of “Not Enough”
The hardest part wasn’t the unfinished tasks; it was the guilt. Guilt for not replying to messages. Guilt for skipping a workout. Guilt for putting off that one big goal — again. Time became a mirror reflecting everything I wasn’t doing, everything I wasn’t achieving. It wasn’t just a lack of hours. It was a battle with my own standards.
The Turning Point
One evening, after a particularly exhausting day, I sat down with a cup of milk, smoke and reflected on my life. I realized that my mindset was the real culprit behind my feelings of inadequacy. I had been measuring my success by the number of tasks completed rather than the quality of my experiences. It was then that I decided to make a change.
That day changed my perspective. Instead of constantly asking myself, “How can I do more?” I started asking, “What actually matters today?” Not everything is urgent. Not everything deserves space in my already crowded mind.
Embracing a New Perspective
I started by prioritizing my time differently. I learned to say no to commitments that didn’t align with my values and to create boundaries around my work hours.
Sometimes, saying “no” to something or someone is the kindest gift you can give yourself. Rest is not a luxury. It’s not wasted time. It’s recovery. It’s preparation for the next day when 24 hours will still not be enough but might just be manageable.
I dedicated specific times for self-care, allowing myself to indulge in activities that brought me joy. I also embraced imperfection, recognizing that it was okay to leave some tasks unfinished.
With each passing day, I learned to appreciate the small moments, sipping my morning coffee in peace or enjoying a night. I realized that while 24 hours might never feel like enough, it was how I chose to spend those hours that truly mattered!
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Source image from freepik.com
*This article helped created by AI machine to help me learn writing for IELTS preparation*
