You’ve probably heard it before: “We all have the same 24 hours in a day.”
Health and fitness professionals often follow it up with something like, “Thirty to sixty minutes of exercise is only about 4% of your day. You can and should make time to move your body and take care of yourself.”
The message seems simple and motivational at first glance. Just commit to three days a week of activity, no excuses. Get up, get moving, and prioritize yourself.
But here’s what they got wrong:
Not all 24-hour days are created equal.
The reality is that time looks different for everyone, and for many people, the hours in a day are anything but equal. Finding time for fitness is not as simple as it may seem. Think about it like this:
- Moms and caregivers: A large portion of your day is spent caring for others — feeding, bathing, driving, helping with homework, or managing doctor’s appointments. “Free time” often doesn’t exist in the way others might assume.
- 9-5 workers: After commuting, meetings, and work responsibilities, you might be left with only a small slice of the day to handle household chores, cook dinner, or unwind.
- Shift workers (12+ hour days): Long shifts, especially those in healthcare or service industries, leave little time for rest — let alone a full workout.
- People going through tough times: Whether it’s grief, illness, or financial stress, mental and emotional exhaustion can weigh as heavily as physical fatigue, making “just get moving” advice feel dismissive.
The truth is, taking care of yourself doesn’t always look like an hour-long gym session. It might mean:
- A 10-minute walk between meetings
- Stretching before bed
- Doing squats while waiting for your coffee to brew
- Breathing exercises during a stressful moment
Consistency over intensity is always the goal. It’s not about squeezing into someone else’s version of a “perfect routine.” It’s about finding moments to move in ways that fit your reality.
If you only have 5 minutes today, that’s still 5 minutes invested in yourself. Trust that is enough. You can make so much progress by doing the smallest amount over doing nothing at all. Give yourself grace, celebrate small wins, and remember — your version of progress is valid.
So next time someone tells you that “you have the same 24 hours,” remind yourself: your day is uniquely yours, and your path to wellness doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. Finding time for fitness will always be worth it.