Last Saturday while waiting for lunch at the local Sonic Drive-In, I did a tiny bit of journaling about something that was on my mind at the moment. For whatever reason, I was thinking about the concept of value and what it means in terms of my day-to-day actions and activities. I suppose it arose out of my having just completed my normal Saturday morning routine, which consists of taking a trunk-load of garbage to the Cheatham County dump and filling up my car with gas for the week. Sometimes all these routines and chores just make me feel like I’m playing Whac-A-Mole: as soon as one chore is completed, there’s another one to be marked off in it’s place. Soon enough, the same chore comes back. But to what end? You know how it is: you have to clean the house again, do the laundry, mow the lawn, pay taxes, get a haircut, go grocery shopping, go to the gym, pay the bills, etc.

My point is not to bemoan the repetitive nature of these tasks, since many can be automated or outsourced (for a fee, of course) but I want to focus on whether any real value is created in doing them, whether that value is for me or for anyone else. And this is really directed at so-called “tasks” like catching up on Lost episodes or things that seemingly have value like organizing all your index cards. All too often I find myself filling up my time with “junk food” reading, whether it’s pointless magazines or websites or RSS feeds, things that don’t really add value to my life. Sure, there’s a place for all that, but if that’s all you do, you’re not doing much of value.

Personally, I’m trying to form the habit of asking myself, before I do anything, whether it’s on the job, at home, or elsewhere: “What value am I bringing to the world by doing this? Is what I’m doing bringing value to my life? My career? My family? How does it impact my relationships on a spiritual level, be it with God or those around me?” It’s interesting food for thought that has the potential to lead to a much richer, more productive, more creative life. It helps me find perspective when it feels like I’m just “doing chores.” It also helps weed out the unnecessary time-sinks.

Have you considered what kind of value you’re creating with what you do? What’s been the result? Please share over in the forums.