Life as a Pie Chart: Why We Feel Like There’s Never Enough Time

If life was a pie chart, most of us would find our slices already spoken for. Out of the 168 hours in a week, about a third goes to sleep, another quarter to work, and a good chunk to commuting, eating, cleaning, and all the “life maintenance” tasks that keep the wheels turning. By the time you’ve done the math, there’s usually only a slim slice left for yourself — hobbies, passions, or just sitting still without guilt.

No wonder we feel like there’s never enough time.

This is one of the big reasons my partner Jason and I share a dream of retiring as soon as possible. It’s not about escaping work — it’s about getting our time back. We want bigger slices of the pie for the things that make us feel alive.

How Hobbies Stretch Time

A while ago, I came across something about Scandinavian lifestyles — Norwegian or Swedish, I can’t quite remember — but the idea stuck with me. In Norway, there’s a concept called friluftsliv, which literally means “open-air living,” and in Sweden, people live by lagom, which is about balance and “just enough.” Built into these cultural mindsets is the expectation that you’ll have multiple hobbies and seasonal activities that give your year variety, rhythm, and accomplishment.

The effect? Hobbies make time feel fuller, richer, and longer. Instead of being swallowed by work and chores, life has chapters, milestones, and things to look forward to.

Jason and I have felt this ourselves. Over the years we’ve tried cross-country skiing, CrossFit, biking, pickleball, trap shooting, half marathon training, and swing dancing. Some stuck for a while, some came and went, but each added a little storyline to our year.

And here’s the thing: whenever we were in a hobby groove, I noticed something — my happiness went up, and time itself felt bigger. A week with swing dancing or a long training run in it just felt more spacious than a week of “work, eat, sleep, repeat.”

Loving the Journey of Learning

What we’ve discovered is that we don’t just love the activities themselves — we love the process of learning new skills. I’m drawn to music, movement, and expression, which is why swing dancing lights me up. Jason gravitates toward precision and accuracy, which is why trap shooting speaks to him. We each bring our own flavor, and together, our shared adventures create a rhythm that expands our sense of time.

And there’s another layer: the more we commit to hobbies, the less time we spend on wasteful activities. Instead of binging Netflix or endlessly scrolling social media, we’re moving our bodies, building skills, meeting new people, and collecting experiences that leave us with a sense of accomplishment. Hobbies don’t just fill time — they transform it.

Seasons of Hobbies, Seasons of Friendships

Hobbies, in a way, remind me of friendships. Some are seasonal — they come and go, adding joy and growth for a time — while others stay and become part of who we are. Both bring meaning, even if they don’t last forever. I recently wrote about this idea in Friendship in Flux: Navigating Connection Through Life Changes, and I see the same rhythm playing out with how we approach our hobbies.

The Effort of Scheduling Joy

Of course, it doesn’t just happen. Hobbies take thought and effort to schedule. You don’t accidentally end up on a dance floor or at the shooting range. You have to carve out that slim slice of free time and actually dedicate it to joy.

But when I do, the reward is always the same: life feels richer, like I’ve reclaimed something from the routine.

The Math vs. the Feeling of Time

So maybe the pie chart explains the math of why we feel short on time — but hobbies, passions, and intentional living explain the feeling of time. Until Jason and I reach our retirement dream, this is how we’re getting our time back, little by little.

Because when I look back, I don’t remember the hours spent commuting or folding laundry. I remember the laughter of swing dancing, the rhythm of half marathon training, the peace of skiing, and the thrill of trying something new. And those memories make my slice of life feel a whole lot bigger.

Your Turn

Take a look at your own “life pie chart.” How much of your time is going to the things that truly bring you joy? Are there hobbies you’ve been meaning to try, or old passions you’d like to pick up again? Even small slices of time can make life feel more expansive. So, what’s one thing you can do this week to reclaim a little more of your pie for yourself?