Generally speaking, you should be able to maintain a healthy lifestyle and get good muscle tone if you dedicate an hour a day to exercise. This is not so much time that you'll feel like you are neglecting other things in your life.
A good fitness plan includes balance. You have to be able to balance it with all the other demands on your life-kids, spouse, job, church, house.........friends........etc. Devote too much time to it and then something else gets neglected......you have to find the amount of time that balances out your life.
You can definitely get all you need in a workout in an hour-whether it is cardio, strength training or stretching/balance work. The key is to use good form and really push yourself to get the maximum results.
You have to enjoy what you do, otherwise you will not stick with it, and you can't feel guilty that you are neglecting something else in your life, or that will pressure you to give up.