[Plyphon_]

This might work for you, but from my outside perspective that seems incredibly dystopian and depressing.

When do you see friends? When do you exercise? When do you go out to eat? Watch a film? Play video games?

Seems like that entire routine is about maximising your time working.

I'd rather be somewhat inefficient at work if it means I can have a balance which means I enjoy my life.

[jasonv]

From one POV:

I wake at 430a and work-out first thing. I start working around 730a. I'm usually in bed around 9. If I'm in a creative mode, I can shorten the workout a bit and grab an extra hour in the mornings to write, etc.

I am usually done with job-work around 4p. My family and I, if we go out go out early. We joke we have an "early empty restaurant" habit. We usually watch a show or two each night (or Youtube playlists, movies). Our family things are running, hiking, working out, dog outings.

I see "friends" maybe once/month. That's all I need (should be said -- most people have a cancellation rate on "plans" -- so I'll make plans, but only have to show up periodically because people end up with conflicts; don't know how other people manage this, but it does make me reluctant to increase the "planning" requests from other people).

I do stuff with my son most days (gym, disc golf, pickle/raquetball, tennis), but he also goes to his mother's half-time. My partner goes out of her way to see her friends a few times/month (book club, girls group, happy hours).

Thing is, we don't drink. Not never-ever, but almost-never. One night out.. a few drinks.. upends our flow for a few days. I don't wake up wanting to get at things. Weekends we tend to do MORE of the list above (gym workout in the morning, disc golf in the afternoon, pickle ball in the evening, etc).

Video games? I've never played them. My son plays Minecraft/KSP 60-90 minutes/night, before bed.

And yes, I'm old enough to have a teenage son and I WFH.

[jen729w]

Hey! Yeah this sounds familiar. We’re definitely in at the early restaurant sitting!

We do drink (weekends, a nice cocktail on the front porch), we don’t play video games (I used to when I was younger, but have no desire now), and we typically watch one episode of something with dinner. That’s all the TV I need. I have plenty of time that I could be watching more TV, we just choose not to.

Like, I have a ton of time to read and do my hobby projects. A ton.

[jen729w]

I do those things after 4pm when I knock off work, which is at home in the small city that I live in (which happens to be the capital of Australia), so at 4pm I’m done. No commuting.

I also do them through the day, because I work flexibly and can do things like cycle to the shops for the groceries at 11am just because I want to.

See my sibling comment here about fitness, and also not working Monday.

If it seems depressing I failed in my description. I apologise. It’s actually incredibly relaxing. My partner and I often joke that it feels like we’re already retired. I’m 44 and I work 36-40 hours/week for a large IT integrator!

Edit: I just realised another thing. No kids. We don’t want them. My god I don’t know how you people fit kids in. So, that helps a lot.