I think we have a fundamental disagreement here in that I don't believe that the answer to having a bad work-life balance is to try to increase your efficiency outside of work.
If your job is taking over your life, you owe it to yourself and to the entire labouring population to try to fix that situation.
Coping strategies are rarely good long-term solutions.
How? That requires negotiating power. Negotiating power requires either collective action or an individually having better alternative to working their current job. Collective action is risky because you could be fired and lose your $42,382 income.
What good is said income if you have no free time, and no savings building up to produce future free time?
Let's call it a day here - you think I'm insane, I think you're insane, we won't reach a consensus.
Be well and have some strawberries.
Well, for starters it gives you a dry place to sleep at night and food to put in your belly.