Get up at 5 a.m. and, if you're disciplined, do a few reps of exercise. Jump into the shower. Dry your hair. Finish up with the bathroom. Eat breakfast. Feed the pets. If there's time, organize your day while catching up on the weather and news.

If you have children- multiply by X.

Pile into the car and make all the appropriate stops. Stay on top of keeping your gas tank full and your wallet, too, as you make another pit stop at the ATM.

Next, face the fight on the freeway and keep road rage in check. Make it to work, maintain a good attitude, present yourself as fresh and upbeat and ready to take on the world.

Coffee break. Lunch break. Run the additional lunch time errand. Participate in the obligatory donation for that coworker having a birthday.

Work is over, jump back in the car and pick up the kids. Go to soccer practice. Go to ballet class. Drop off the overdue library books and pick up last-minute items for dinner. Hurry home and whip up a delicious, nutritious meal that the whole family will like, or at least pretend to like. Wash the dishes, sweep the floor, put out the dog. Bring in the dog. Turn off the lights.

Finished?

Not hardly.

Do your own takehome work from the office, read the newspaper and open the mail. Pay the overdue cable bill. Prepare school lunches for tomorrow and plan for the kids' wardrobe.

Chase the kids into the shower and make sure their teeth are brushed. Feed the pets and check to see if they're where they're supposed to be.

If there's time, give yourself 30 quiet minutes to pull your racing thoughts together and settle down before crawling into bed. When sleep starts knocking, do you ask yourself the question, "Am I in a rut?"

Probably.

Studies show that men and women who lived tens of thousands of years ago- and had to forage for all of life's necessities- actually had more free time than human beings do today. They weren't at the mercy of dozens of so-called technological advances that were supposed to save time and make life easier.

At least we can still relax around the barbecue, staring into the ancient flames.