We all have the same 24 hours....

I'm sure you've heard this alot... especially from time management "experts" that we all have the same 24 hours in a day. I find this generalization insulting, to be honest, because while we do all have the same 24 hours in a day, we do not all have the same obligations to complete in that same 24 hour period.

For example, a single person who is going to college is going to have different responsibilities than a married mother of 5 who is working full time. And I believe this idea that we should be able to do everything that everyone else can do in that same time frame is almost bordering bullying.

As a married mother of 5 sons, who works part-time, runs 3 businesses and is also a full-time student (not to mention my husband is away from home more than 200 days a year), I think it's unfair for someone who is single with no children and 1 job to tell me that we have the same 24 hours in a day to get things done. Our 24 hours are remarkably different.

This type of mentality is part of the problem in America. We have a mental health crisis going on right now, with a high rate of suicide and yet we still want to perpetuate this ideal that people should be able to do so much more than what is humanly possible. Don't get me wrong, I don't want to put limitations on anyone, however the truth is that people are beginning to expect so much more from others and themselves than any other time in history. We are working more, sleeping less, and having far less fun. There's a lack of balance in most people's lives.

While it seems that this constant "work ethic" would bring about more productivity, it actually is bringing less. People are burned out, overworked and exhausted.

So how do we fix this problem? I think it starts with each individual. You have to take 100% responsibility for your life. For example, it used to make me feel I had to push myself harder when I would someone say "we all have the same 24 hours in a day". I would criticize myself and wonder why I wasn't able to "keep up" with what everyone else was doing. Now, I love myself where I'm at and I make my own rules. I know what is important to me, what needs to get done, and what can be delegated or put aside for another day. I don't worry about what other people say or expect from me, especially when they have no direct impact from what I do or don't do.

So, cut yourself some slack. Give yourself a break (literally). And know that you are doing good enough right now, even if you know you need to make some improvements. There's always room to improve and there's time to improve as well. Also, give other people a break and remember that you may not have the whole picture. Everyone is doing the best they can with where they're at and what they know.

So the next time you find yourself pushing against the clock, feeling like you'll never get it all done, and wondering how others do it, just step back, take a time out, and remember that things aren't always what they seem. Take a nap, or a long bath, do something for yourself. Afterwards, you might find that you're more productive than before.