31-year-old man can’t believe how busy a completely normal life actually is: ‘On weekends, stuff always pops up. Grandparents need help with something, I have to get my car looked at for x reason, dealing with bills, random life problems’

Author image for Olivia Arocena
Olivia Arocena • Writer and Editor
Sep 28, 2026 12:30 PM EDT

'The amount of effort it takes to have a mid physique, a tidyish house, and no empty wrappers in your car is actually a joke'

I read that phrase once on a random TikTok, and it's stuck with me. I thought I was the only one struggling to keep up with the basics. I sincerely don't know how people do it. Most weeks, I have to sacrifice something to keep up; sometimes it's my chores, sometimes my eating habits, and other times the gym. I can never keep up with absolutely everything.

I still wonder if some people simply manage to do everything they have to do. In my mind, they keep their house neatly cleaned, find time to plan and cook their meals, always go to the gym, get together with friends on the weekends, and go to work just fine.

If they exist, they are maybe wired differently. They might organise their time better and never lie on the couch scrolling through Reels or lose themselves in thought.

Balancing life's small burdens is actually an art form. It's like building a house of cards; every card has to be delicately balanced so the entire castle doesn't fall. Plus, you have to do it every day, no matter whether you are tired, sad, or don't want to.

Honestly, I wish I had that discipline; I think it would get me further in life. There is nothing more rewarding than reaching that level of discipline and care, even on days you don't feel like it. Especially during the days you don't feel like it.

Is this a problem only few of us experience? Or are we all making a huge effort only to reach a mid lifestyle? I guess what happens to a lot of people is that they eventually have kids and realise they had much more time than they thought before. We have to seize it!

Advertisement
  • Cheezburger Image 10666460160
    via Christian Erfurt

    Depiction of how much effort it takes to achieve a mid phisique and a 'cleanish' house

    Representative only



     

  • AITAH for not supporting my daughters extracurricular

    I'm a 31M, and I'm single with no kids. I should have the most free time I'll ever have in my life, maybe except for college. I wake up around 6am every morning. Shower,
    via Sad-Negotiation2786
  • get dressed, maybe workout beforehand if I'm feeling it. Then eat breakfast, usually a bagel with peanut butter, a banana, apple, and protein shake. Then work from 7:30-5, most days from home thankfully.
    via Sad-Negotiation2786
  • After work I'll work out or at least walk a few miles. Then figure out dinner, run miscellaneous errands, and go to bed. There's no substantial time to do anything else.
    via Sad-Negotiation2786
  • On weekends stuff always pops up. Grandparents need help with something, I have to get my car looked at for x reason, dealing with bills, random life problems. It just feels like it never ends.
    via Sad-Negotiation2786
  • I haven't had significant time to decompress from the everyday life routine, well ever. I might take a long weekend away, but I never really disconnect.
    via Sad-Negotiation2786
  • Cheezburger Image 10666459904
    via Vitaly Gariev

    Trying to have fun while he keeps everything from falling apart

    Photo is a representation of scenes



     

  • I'm tired, and I've barely started my career. I don't envision dating as a part of my life because I can't mentally compartmentalize how I'd make time and still have emotional energy for a real relationship when even
    via Sad-Negotiation2786
  • taking care of myself is enough of a challenge in itself.
    via Sad-Negotiation2786
  • Naive-Interaction567 I felt this way until I had children and now I look back so confused at what I did all day. It is weird how time fills but it sounds like you get quite a bit of time to exercise, which is amazing.
    via Naive-Interaction567
  • ahraysee Recently my 5 year old spent a week with grandma and it was incredible how productive I was and how much I got to see friends. I am amazed at how much time I had before becoming a parent!!
    via ahraysee
  • Cheezburger Image 10666460416
    via Brad Starkey

    What he spent the weekend doing

    Stock photo unrelated.



     

Want More? Follow Us and Add Us as a Preferred Source on Google.

Tags

lifestyle life elder millennial adulting millennials adulthood
Scroll Down For The Next Article