Off the top of my head, here are some things that have been accused of being a “waste of time”:

• Watching television.
• Going to the gym.
• Attending a professional wrestling event.
• Surfing the Web.
• Playing video games.
• Going out to the bars.
• Twitter.

Do you enjoy doing any of those things? If you do, have you ever heard them being referred to as a “waste of time” by anyone? I’ve watched quite a bit of TV in my day, and I used to go to the gym. I was once a fan of pro wrestling, and I always had a lot of fun at those events. But what constitutes a waste of time?

Some people will tell you that a waste of time is something that serves no greater purpose. Apparently if it doesn’t advance you further in life, it’s not worth doing. By that definition, we can no longer go to movies, read most books – or read after you graduate, eat any snacks, or play sports with your (unless you plan on being a professional at it). I can’t go watch the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park (which I’m getting ready to do right now). Heck, let’s get rid of telling jokes with friends and family, too.

Obviously I’m taking this a step further than people would like, but do you get the idea? Picture your life if everything had to serve a purpose: whatever you did went towards your mental, physical, or financial health. It would get pretty dull, if you ask me.

Now, I’m a big fan of learning and furthering your life experience. I think exercise is great, cooking healthy meals is a wonderful thing, and I do more research now than when I was in school and had to. But I also know that a big part of life needs to be enjoyment. What is the point of living without having a little bit of fun?

A waste of time is a subjective concept. I personally think going out to the bars and getting blitzed every night is a waste of time, but I know plenty of people who would disagree with me. That’s their prerogative. Stop letting people define that concept to you. We all have our opinions.

On the flip side, a waste of time CAN be a bad thing – if taken too far. If you are sitting around watching television and it is affecting your health or your career, then get off your butt and go do something. Just like too much “purposeful” activity can do you harm, so can too much “purposeless” activity. Like many things in life, including diets and plenty of vices, the key is to strike a balance: enjoy yourself – it’s great to give your brain and your body a break – but when the time comes to get back to work, get back to work already. Earn those wastes of time, and they won’t be such a big deal.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to get down to the stadium.

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