Okay, so today I was messing around with this whole “business or pleasure” gray zone thing. It’s something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately, especially with how I spend my time.
I started by just jotting down everything I did today. Literally everything. From brushing my teeth to checking emails, to scrolling through social media, to working on that side project I’ve been meaning to get to.
Breaking It Down
Then, I went through the list and tried to categorize each thing. Was it strictly “business” (meaning, directly related to income or career advancement)? Was it purely “pleasure” (like, just for fun, no other benefit)? Or was it somewhere in between?
- Checking emails: Mostly business, but sometimes personal stuff slips in.
- Working on my side project: This was a big gray area! It’s fun, but it could also lead to income someday.
- Scrolling social media: Mostly pleasure… but I do occasionally find useful stuff for work there too.
- Having dinner with a friend who also works in my field: We talked shop, but it was also just a good time.
It got messy, fast. I realized that a lot of the things I do blur the lines. Like, I enjoy learning new things related to my field, so is watching that documentary “business” or “pleasure”? It feels like both!
I spent a good chunk of the afternoon just staring at my list, trying to figure out a better system. Maybe a percentage breakdown? Like, “70% business, 30% pleasure” for certain activities? But even that felt too rigid.
My Takeaway (for now)
Honestly, I didn’t come up with a perfect solution. But the exercise itself was useful. I became more aware of how easily these categories blend together. And I think that’s okay. Maybe it’s not about forcing everything into a neat box, but about being mindful of how I’m spending my time and making sure I’m striking a balance that feels right to me.
It also helped me realized to do more thinking moving forward, will keep you guys updated!
