Learn Hardcore Norwegian: I hverdagen prøver jeg å være tålmodig, selv om tiden er knapp. - In everyday life I try to be patient, even though time is short.

hverdag = a weekday / an everyday (indefinite)
hverdagen = the everyday / everyday life (definite, used generically here)
So I hverdagen is a natural way to mean in everyday life / in daily life.

Why is the word order prøver jeg and not jeg prøver?

Because Norwegian is a V2 (verb-second) language in main clauses: the finite verb takes the second position. When you start with an adverbial like I hverdagen, the verb still must be second, so the subject moves after the verb:

Jeg prøver å være tålmodig.
I hverdagen prøver jeg å være tålmodig.

What exactly does prøver mean here, and why present tense?

prøver (present of å prøve) means try / attempt / make an effort. The present tense is commonly used for general habits and ongoing efforts, so it fits as a general statement about daily life.

Why is there å before være?

å is the Norwegian infinitive marker, like English to:

å være = to be
After verbs like prøve, Norwegian typically uses å + infinitive: prøve å gjøre noe = try to do something.

Why is tålmodig not changed (no ending)?

After å være, you use an adjective as a predicative adjective (describing the subject). tålmodig is the base form and doesn’t take an ending here because the subject jeg is singular and there’s no neuter agreement needed:

Jeg er tålmodig. = I am patient.
(Compare: Det er tålmodig would be unnatural because det isn’t a person here; with real neuter agreement you’ll see -t in other adjectives, e.g. Det er kaldt.)

What is the function of selv om and how does it affect word order?

selv om means even though / although and introduces a subordinate clause. In Norwegian subordinate clauses, the normal pattern is that the subject comes before the verb (no V2 inversion):

... selv om tiden er knapp (subject tiden
- verb er)
  So you don’t say selv om er tiden knapp.

Why is there a comma before selv om?

Norwegian normally uses a comma before a subordinate clause introduced by conjunctions like selv om, fordi, at, etc., especially when it’s added after the main clause:

Main clause: I hverdagen prøver jeg å være tålmodig
Subordinate clause: selv om tiden er knapp
Comma separates them.

Why is it tiden and not tid?

Just like hverdagen, tiden is the definite form and is often used generically to mean the time (available) in a situation:

tid = time (in general, as a concept)
tiden = the time (we have / the time in the situation)
Here it suggests the time (available) is short.

Why is it knapp and not knapt or knappe?

tid is a common-gender noun (en-ord): en tid → tiden. Predicative adjectives agree with gender/number:

Common gender singular: knapp
Neuter singular: knapt (e.g. et budsjett → Budsjettet er knapt)
Plural: knappe (e.g. Ressursene er knappe)
So tiden er knapp is correct.

Is I hverdagen the same as til daglig? Which is more natural?

They’re very close:

I hverdagen = in everyday life / in day-to-day life (a bit more explicit)
til daglig = in everyday life / normally / on a daily basis (very common and compact)
Both are natural; til daglig prøver jeg... is a frequent, idiomatic option.

How would this sentence sound if I moved the selv om clause to the front?

That’s possible, but then you get V2 inversion in the main clause after the subordinate clause:

Selv om tiden er knapp, prøver jeg å være tålmodig i hverdagen.
Notice: after the initial subordinate clause, the main clause starts with prøver jeg (verb second), not jeg prøver.

Any pronunciation pitfalls in this sentence?

Common tricky bits for English speakers:

å in prøver jeg å være: å is a long-ish vowel (often like aw/oh depending on accent).
tålmodig: stress on the first part (TÅL-). The -ig ending is often pronounced like a reduced -i sound in many dialects (varies).
hverdagen: the hv is usually pronounced like v in modern Norwegian (so roughly verdagen).