Social Networking and Revolution of Play

I was reading Chris Brogan’s blog post “Work and Play”, which he touches on the importance of balance in your life. The delicate art of balancing work and play will be a constant revolution in your life as various demands pull and shift your focus. For those of us in wrapped up into social media, the definition of what is work and play is not always clear.

There are blogs and post galore that speak of what and how much social media to engage. Some will give you their top sites to focus one, number of blogs to follow, etc, but really there is no sure fire, common methodology which we can all follow. Some of us may be attracted to Twitter, or religiously start the day off with Digg. I am finding that really no matter what social media outlets you use, the results will be the same. You will find a niche of people who share a common tread and you will engage each other. I have to admit, that sometimes I feel like Twittering is more like hanging out in the break room than actual productive work. I am sure all of us who are transforming the idea that “networking” needs to as high of a priority as expense reports will battle this internal definition of work. I am starting to except that Twitter is sometimes work, just a fun aspect of it.

If Twitter, blogging, SEO/SEM, and Facebook is an extension of work, then you need a new way to play. Even Guy Kawasaki, the biggest evangelical of Twitter and Alltop, knows he doesn’t need to engage every moment. Some people, social networking started out as “play” after the real work was done. Once learning the powerful magnitude of being LinkedIn with others, it quickly transforms into an extension of work. OMG..now you feel as if you work 24/7, just this time the results are not tangible items for display. This is when you need to find something else to become your play.

I have an addictive personality, which means anything I enjoy doing quickly becomes a “To-do” in my head. One can imagine the struggles I endure when my list becomes impossible :-). When I become “addicted” those activities don’t always feel like play anymore. Needing a break from studying, reading, blogging, running, working, etc, I defined my play on Saturday nights. Several weeks ago, I found an old 1940’s movie on television rather late into the evening. It reminded me of my childhood, when my father and I would pass Sunday afternoons by watching old movies. As one of my favorite childhood memories, I decided I could revolutionize it for my life today.

My play time with no computer on, cellphone turned off, no books on my lap, or pencil in my hand, will be every Saturday night starting after 10pm, when I enjoy a childhood pastime just tweaked a bit. It might not be Sunday after church, have my father there, and I am a bit larger then 5yrs old, but it can still mean as much. This time, wrapped up in Pajamas, dog resting on my lap, and beer in my hand. It’s my play, now what’s yours?