Youth Incorporated Magazine

There is no doubt that Hrithik Roshan charms us all in every movie he does, but his character of Arjun in Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara has always made me think, ‘life shouldn’t be about being constantly consumed in work.’ For all those who believe in the ‘work is god’ philosophy, I am with you, but not to the extent where it becomes your life. 

Work culture, especially in India, has become toxic. Its primarily undergone three stages. One was when the Boomers maintained a work-life balance working diligently in 9-5 jobs which required them to work for 8 hours. Then came the second stage where the Millennials dedicated their life to work and slogged themselves till they reached a complete burnout. Fun fact: They still do. Then there are GenZs who are building the third stage which is more about working flexibly at any time which suits their convenience as long as it doesn’t negatively affect their work. While each believes their work culture is the ideal one, there needs to be a balance, a mantra, that can help you get through this stressful life that we all are currently living. What if I tell you there is one! 

Its called the 8:8:8 Rule

It is a guaranteed mantra that even the most successful personalities have tried, tested and recommended. This mantra divides the 24 hour day into 8:8:8 hours and guides us to spend accordingly. Under this mantra, you need to work for 8 hours, engage in leisurely activities for 8 hours, and get sound sleep in the remaining 8 hours. Sounds easy and doable, isn’t it?

So how exactly must you utilize this divided time?

Keep 8 hours for your work:  

Many companies have normalised employees working out of work hours and so have the employees. This has led to the rise in toxic work cultures. Setting boundaries subtly and saying a clean ‘NO’ politely is the need of the hour. In most cases, mismanagement of work, shabby work, bad planning and incorrect work ethics are responsible for work overload. Proper planning and implementation of good work ethics and habits can help in completing work in 8 hours. Make sure you only work during these 8 hours and eliminate all kinds of distractions and time-wasters. 8 hours is the ideal amount of hours one requires to finish their work. 

Dedicate the remaining 8 hours for yourself:

Having some time for yourself is extremely essential for personal care and growth. Use up these 8 hours doing things and activities that will relax and calm the mind. Do what you love. Read, cook, watch shows, hang out with friends, go on dates, join some creative classes, etc. There is an nth number of things that you can take up and do during these eight hours. Here, you only focus on your private life and nothing else. 

Then again there is 8 hour of sleep that you need to keep up the grind:

The right amount of sleep acts as a fuel that is required to keep the human mind fresh. Lack of sleep coupled with stress leads to various health concerns. It is important for you to give your body and the mind compulsory 8 hours of sleep. Only when you recharge yourself, can you work with a sound and active mind. 

Following this 8:8:8 mantra will help you strike a balance between your work and personal life and also make sure your basic health is maintained. So when are you adopting this ‘strongly recommended’ mantra?