Finding Balance In Life: The Power Of 8 8 8 Rule

We all know the importance of time management when balancing work and personal life. However, how do we divide the whole 24 hours of a day for each aspect?

The easiest way to think about it is to equally divide it into 3 parts: 8 hours for work, 8 hours for family or personal time and the 8 hours left for relaxing. But is it as easy as the way we think, or is it hard to follow?

In this article, we provide all you need about the 8 8 8 rule to achieve balance so you have enough knowledge to adjust your lifestyle or habit. Let’s dive into the details!

1. What is the 8 8 8 Rule?

Have you ever felt like there just aren't enough hours in the day? It can be a challenge to juggle work, rest, family time, and personal activities, even if you work away from home with flexible time. Well, there's a simple guideline that can help create more balance - it's called the 8 8 8 rule.

The idea is to divide your day into three blocks of roughly 8 hours each: eight hours for work, eight hours for sleep and rest, and eight hours for fun personal time. Following this breakdown aims to ensure that the important parts of your life each get enough attention.

To manage your time effectively, you need to allocate the day to different activities. Photo by Yevhenii on stock.adobe.com

Allocating eight hours for work is meant to keep you productive without getting burnt out. Eight hours of sleep at night meets what most adults need to feel refreshed. 

The final eight hours are used for leisure activities, such as spending time with loved ones, hobbies, exercise, or just relaxing. Non-work pursuits are vital for reducing stress and growing as a person.

Who created the 8-8-8 rule? Robert Owen, a Welsh industrialist and social reformer, is credited with the concept of 8-8-8 work-life balance. In the early 19th century, he advocated for an ideal daily structure with "eight hours labour, eight hours recreation, and eight hours rest."

Of course, real life isn't always so neatly scheduled. Most of us may have to spend around 2 hours before and after work doing chores, bathing, commuting, taking care of children, etc., which leaves about 6 hours or less for ourselves (not counting the 7-8 hours of sleep).

Don't stress if you can't stick to the 8-8-8 splits exactly. The idea is to roughly aim for eight hours in each area most days.

The balance might help you perform better at your job, stay happier and healthier, nurture relationships - plus feel generally more content. Give the 8-8-8 rule a try and see if it improves your days.

3. Benefits of Following the 8 8 8 Rule

Having some structure to your days can help you feel less stressed and organise time to do tasks. When you make time for all aspects of life, lots of good things start to happen.

1. You'll Feel Better Physically and Emotionally

Eight hours of sleep per day is the standard habit, and it is also the brain's requirement for getting refreshed. According to NINDS, most adults need 7-9 hours of sleep per night.

Some think they can pay the “sleep debt” by catching up on sleep on weekends, but this is not enough. Getting solid sleep lets your brain recharge and gives you the energy to prepare for a new day. Whe