A friend of mine asked, Do you read your Bible at work on a regular basis? (I’m no pastor, but it’s a legitimate question, since I work at a church.)
I replied, No, not on a regular basis, but when I feel like I’m lagging behind in my reading or when I want to blog about something I’m finding interesting…
Oh, so do you blog when you’re at work?, was the next question.
Me: Some… times… yes. But not always.
The topic got changed, and that was all there was to it. But some time later I wondered, What was that all about?
So I gave my friend a call, inquiring about the inquiries, and she explained.
She occasionally feels the need to read books relevant to her job, and she’s wondering if maybe she should start blogging, but feels guilty about doing these things while at work. So she’s left wondering, Should I or shouldn’t I…?
We discussed it for awhile, and my thoughts were: if it’s related to your job, and if it will improve how you do your job, or if your job requires interaction with others and somehow what you learn or blog about will in turn help them, then yes, you should do that stuff at work (obviously not at the expense of your regular job). But I’m not my friend’s boss (or yours), so if you still have doubts, present the idea to your boss and tell him or her why you want to do that thing you want to do.
The next day I shared the conversation with my wife, and the simplest guideline – at least, for me – just hit me.
If you’re reading or blogging or doing something at work, and someone walks in on you, what is your initial gut reaction?
a) Hide the book I’m reading under a pile of papers.
b) Yank my computer’s power cord out of the wall to hide what’s on the monitor.
c) Slam my laptop shut.
d) Scream: Nothing! I don’t know what you’re talking about!!!
e) d) and a), b) or c).
f) Carry on as if I were normal.
If you chose any of the options above, you already know the answer to the question.