The 100 Hour Work Week
Being Intentional With Your Time
I remember watching a video from the “Goal Guys” on YouTube and thinking, that looks exhausting. But it made me stop and consider: how was I really spending my time?
In this post, I want to break down how I’ve used my time, how most people use theirs, and what we can do to get more out of life.
Tracking My Work Hours
Curious about how much I was actually working, I asked our admin to pull a report. From March 2020 to January 2025, I averaged 9.3 hours every business day—that’s a solid 45-hour workweek.
But that doesn’t include the “hidden hours.”
Commute: 30 minutes each way = 1 extra hour/day.
Getting ready: about 30 minutes in the morning.
That’s 1.5 extra hours a day devoted to work, unpaid. Altogether, I was at 10.8 hours/day, or 54 hours/week tied up with my job.
Breaking Down a Week
We all get 168 hours in a week. Here’s my breakdown:
Sleep: I need 9 hours/night = 63 hours/week.
Work (with commute/getting ready): 54 hours/week.
Leftover: 51 hours/week for “whatever.”
For me, that averages out to about 4.2 hours on weekdays and 15 hours each weekend day. Most people, working 40 hours a week, actually have closer to 65 hours of free time.
Of course, daily necessities—chores, meals, errands, family care—eat up about 14 hours/week. That realistically leaves around 37-51 hours of personal time depending on how much you work (roughly 2-4 hours on weeknights and 12-15 each weekend day).
Where the Time Goes
According to the American Time Use Survey, the average person spends 5 hours/day on leisure, mostly screens. That’s about 50 hours/week—more than a full-time job.
Instead, I’ve used my limited personal time over the years by:
Working consistent overtime
Becoming debt-free with my spouse
Buying and renovating a house at 23
Getting married at 24
Advancing my career
Pouring into self-development
Completing certificate as a full-time student
Not every hour was productive, sometimes I just needed to recover, but I have always had a bias for working. Thankfully this effort has compounded into real results.
Why Effort Compounds
Your brain seems to forget the hard work, but the results stay. The time passes anyway, so why not make something of it?
From what I see, many people:
Work their jobs
Do the bare minimum at home
Then spend their free time in front of a screen
Nothing wrong with enjoying entertainment, but it wears off quickly for me. I’ve found more fulfillment in resting through meditation, then pouring my energy into growth.
Practical Ways to Reclaim Time
Here are some things that have worked for me:
Cut back on screens
Schedule intentional rest (meditation, not just Netflix)
Build something scalable on the side
Meal prep to save hours later
Budget and track expenses
Improve your skills at work
Invest in your relationship—become the kind of person your spouse wants to grow with
If you have debt, consider overtime hours and pay on it until it’s gone
Sacrifice isn’t glamorous, but it frees up your most valuable resource: attention.
The Power of Relationships
In writing this I realize one of the biggest leverage points with time is marriage or partnership. When two people align their efforts, incomes, and perspectives you are able to get more than you put in.
If you want to strengthen your relationship, I recommend:
His Needs, Her Needs by Dr. Willard F. Harley (for romance)
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey (especially Habit #5 on communication)
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle (for presence)
Dr. Harley suggests couples spend 15 hours/week together. That’s time well invested.
Final Thoughts
Life feels short when you break it down into weeks. That’s why being intentional with your time matters. Protect it. Invest it. Build with it.
For me, that means working toward early retirement and creating a life where I choose how my week looks.
Cheers to making the most of your 168 hours, and I’ll leave you with a quote
“Your 9-5 isn’t killing your dreams. Wasting your 5-9 is.” - Alex Hormozi
He encourages you, for a season or two, to work weekends and be intentional with your time before and after work.
