Work, Gym, Laundry, Repeat: My Not-So-Perfect Balance Act

Let’s Be Honest… Life Feels Like a Race

Some days it feels like 24 hours just isn’t enough. We wake up, rush to work, battle traffic, try to stay fit, eat healthy, maintain glowing skin, keep the house clean, and still show up for our loved ones. Somewhere along the way, we were made to believe that if we’re not constantly doing something, we’re failing. And honestly? I’m exhausted.

I work as a public officer (and no, not your typical “fonctionnaire” stereotype!). After my 9–5, there are wife duties, the gym grind, skincare routines, and reading to feed the soul. Add to that the never-ending list of chores—laundry, dishes, groceries. Oh, and the most dreaded daily question: What’s for dinner?

It’s a lot. Some days you sacrifice one thing just to tick off another. But here’s what a real day looks like for me:

My Typical Day (Spoiler: It’s Not Glamorous)

8 AM: Leave home. But first—traffic. That “20-minute” drive? More like 60–75 minutes. By the time I get to work, I’ve already lost my will to live.
9 AM: Work officially starts. Coffee becomes my lifeline.
4–5 PM: Done with work… but not really. Detour to the supermarket because apparently, food doesn’t magically appear in the fridge (why though?!)
Evening: The daily dinner debate. Why does deciding what to cook feel like sitting for an exam? Humans are complicated – we want variety, so no, we can’t just eat roti every day (even if secretly, we want to).
Then: Gym time. Because if I skip, guilt comes knocking.
Back home: Laundry, dishes, tidying up—because apparently the house fairy has resigned.
Finally: Skincare, Netflix, maybe a book if my eyelids don’t betray me. Suddenly it’s midnight. That mythical 8 hours of sleep? Cute, but I’m lucky if I hit 5.

Sound familiar? If yes, welcome to the club, peeps. But here’s how I keep myself from burning out completely.

5 Ways to Balance It All Without Losing My Mind

✅ 1. Prioritize Like a Boss

Not everything needs to happen today. Your laundry can survive an extra day. Learn to rank tasks: urgent, important, and “nice to do.”

✅ 2. Meal Plan (Seriously, It Helps)

The mental gymnastics of deciding dinner every night is exhausting. A little meal planning = fewer arguments, fewer headaches, and more time.

✅ 3. Spread Out the Chores

Laundry doesn’t have to be daily unless you’re running a hotel. Batch tasks across the week instead of cramming them all into one night.

✅ 4. Sneak in Micro Self-Care

No spa day? No problem. Do a face mask while folding laundry. Stretch while waiting for pasta to boil. Self-care doesn’t have to be fancy—it just has to happen.

✅ 5. Protect Sleep (As Much As You Can)

Yes, I’m the queen of 5-hour nights. But even then, I try to make it count: no late caffeine, no endless scrolling before bed, and lights out at a decent time. Netflix can wait.

What If You Can’t Get 8 Hours of Sleep?

If you’re like me, 7–8 hours feels like a fairy tale. Most nights, 5 hours is all I get. Here’s how I make it work:

✔ Make it high quality. Dark, cool room. Phone on silent. A calming wind-down ritual.

✔ Power naps save lives. Even 15 minutes at lunch can recharge you.

✔ Ditch sleep killers. Late-night sugar, screens, or that extra cup of coffee ruin rest.

✔ Batch & delegate chores. Laundry mountain can wait. Share tasks if possible.

✔ Trade “one more episode” for rest. Hard, I know. But 'future you' will thank you.

The Bottom Line

Balancing work, life, and self-care isn’t about doing everything perfectly—it’s about not losing your sanity in the process. Give yourself permission to slow down. Skip a chore if it means you can breathe. Remember: life isn’t a race.

Take a deep breath. You’ve got this, my beautiful people💛

Until next post,