The “8 plus 8 plus 8”- rule…

I stumbled upon this nugget of wisdom from Denzel Washington last week on YouTube, as I was searching for some inspiration for my motivational video of week six of our New Year Challenge.

Actually, it’s not Denzel’s rule. Robert Owen, a Welsh businessman is credited with the concept of 8-8-8 work-life balance. In the early 19^th century, Owen advocated for an ideal daily structure with eight hours of work, eight hours of recreation, and eight hours of rest.

“Gmpf!”, I can almost hear your muffled frustration. Eight hours of work? More like nine+ hours, because emails don’t read themselves, and paperwork has a way of somehow multiplying overnight. And if you take a nap at work, does it count toward your eight hours or sleep, or your eight hours of work? Asking for a friend.

Eight hours of sleep? It IS the standard habit, they say, and it’s also the brain’s requirement for getting refreshed. But HA! More like five hours when you’re an early riser like me. And for parents? Eight hours of work, eight hours of kids, and eight seconds of sleep! And what about those eight hours of recreation for yourself? Yeah, sure, if by yourself, means cooking, running errands, and wondering where the time went, right?

Don’t get me wrong – listening to the “8+8+8-rule”, for the first time, with Denzel Washington’s powerful, deep, captivating voice, makes one believe in the magic of balance and time management. It’s a great idea…if only life would cooperate. Because let’s be honest, “life” often gets swallowed by obligations. Time that should be spent enjoying hobbies, moving our bodies, laughing with friends, or simply unwinding, is often sacrificed to “one more errand” or “just one more task”. As one of my friends recently commented: “Maybe I should just accept that coffee and power naps count as rest, that scrolling Instagram is self-care, and that laughing at my own chaos is productivity…”

I’m not the greatest example of applying the “8+8+8-rule” myself! Last weekend, when we were in Stellenbosch, Jacqueline had to manage the spreadsheet with everyone’s class totals. She did a brilliant job, but her WhatsApp message on Sunday morning stayed with me for a while: “Now I realize all over again how little me-time you have, Mirna.”

I never really think about this, because it’s what I do. As a fitness instructor my personal “8+8+8”, especially during those times that we host Fitness Challenges, often looks more like “12+5+who knows”! But the studio is my happy place, where the lines between work and play blur into a seamless flow. It’s not just a place where I show up to teach or manage; it’s where my passion comes to life. And I agree with American motivational speaker, Simon Sinek, who says: “Working hard for something we don’t care about is called stress; working hard for something we love is called passion.”

When you’re living your passion, I believe there’s no need for rigid boundaries. To me, every hour spent being busy with my members, my moves, my music, my Blog and my classes, feels like play – because I’m doing what I love.

…I don’t reject the idea of trying to balance work and play. And this video clip has indeed given me food for thought. Denzel’s also says: “Don’t confuse movement with purpose.” In other words, just because we’re busy, doesn’t mean we’re actually getting somewhere. It’s a strong reminder that we should make space for the things that make life meaningful. And that we DO have time – because we do. We all have 24 hours every day! That means time for work, time for sleep, and time for play, but also time to work out, and above all, time to connect deeply with God and His Word.

When it comes to the “8+8+8-rule”, I don’t think it’s time that’s the real issue – It’s about prioritizing, and, about making better use of the time we have. I believe I have started to implement the “8+8+8-rule” in a small way since 2025 kicked off – I try to write my weekly Blog during the week. Mari, Michelle, Jacqueline and I also try to finalize the next week’s schedule long before Friday, and I have even managed to compile our Challenge content between classes.

…I realize that overworking myself at the studio or behind my laptop is not making me a better trainer, leader, or person. And working smarter, not longer, is the magic recipe. But this rule doesn’t just apply to life – it applies to fitness, too. Overtraining without rest? Recipe for burnout. Working out without proper nutrition? No progress. Fitness is also about balance, just like life. You can’t pour from an empty cup, and you can’t squat yourself out of exhaustion.

In his book “The Responsibility Ethic”, the famous Canadian author, Adam Kreek, writes: “Recover intelligently. Ensure your downtime allows for consistent uptime. Recover as hard as you work.” I know this is something I need to keep working on.

But counting hours to find balance? That’s not me. I have never been great at math anyway! And I don’t think life is meant to be neatly divided into perfect portions of work, rest, and play. The pursuit of balance can feel like a trap – an illusion that everything must be measured and controlled.

The truth is, the most beautiful moments, the ones that make life unforgettable, come from fully embracing the seasons of chaos, passion, and even exhaustion. Some days, we give everything to our dreams, and some days, we dance through the madness. Other days, we collapse into stillness. And that’s okay. Because a life well-lived isn’t about equal parts – it’s about the parts that matter most.

Therefore, sorry Mr Owen, instead of chasing balance, I think I’ll choose to chase meaning, movement, and moments that set my soul on fire. I’ll pour my heart into what matters, give my best, follow my gut, and I’ll rather remember this classic quote by you, Mr Washington:

“Ease is a greater threat to progress than hardship…”

Because growth doesn’t happen in comfort—it happens when we push, stretch, and challenge ourselves beyond what feels easy. So, let’s welcome these challenges, knowing that every step forward – messy, unpredictable, and unbalanced as it may be – is still progress.

Yours in fitness

Mirna
082 779 0507

PS: Next week I’m conducting the final body assessments 24/7, so there won’t be a Blog. And, if you are a Challenge member, send me a short WhatsApp message with YOUR opinion on the 8+8+8 rule before Sunday at 20.00, please!