While on the weekend, living away at from my computer, I had no opportunity to play "Tetris". I am, by nature, a person who likes to improve my skills. And when I tried Tetris, I was pitiful at it. And I took up the challenge to get better and to increase my level in the game. When I was getting overwhelmed with the tasks of work, it was fun to go play a game (or two or three) where I could feel improvement and have a sense of competence and control. In the bigger picture however, I did realize that it was not actually getting things done, and that the developing sense of competence involved a game which has no real helpful application to my life...it was simply a form of avoidance. On the weekend, away from the computer, I couldn't play it, so I didn't play it, and I had a chance to read a book, I enjoyed my run, and I realized I didn't need, and actually didn't want it...it was "junk time" in my life, rather like potato chips or a chocolate bar is junk food to the diet (or white bread to a goose!).
I made a promise to myself to not play Tetris through the end of June. I've had to stop myself a couple of times from going to Tetris, to stay on task at work, to get the task done, so that I can feel good about accomplishing more while I'm at the computer, and then be able to get off the computer, so I can get to clearing that shelf, making some cookies, pulling some weeds, going for a walk, or reading a book...something that is not "junk time".
I don't want my life to become dependent on time spenders that are of very low nutritional value.
Each of us has choices to use our time wisely, invest in relationships wisely.
- Do you sometimes watch a movie with a friend/spouse, when conversation would be more worthwhile?
- Have you chosen to eat dinner in front of the TV instead of across the table from each other?
- Have you chosen to have "conversation lite" instead of digging into your financial situation or the way you hurt each other in that arguement last night?