The Health/Work/Play/Love Dashboard is an exercise to help me understand where I am in my life. The exercise is from the book ‘Designing Your Life’.

The instruction is to write a few sentences about each area in life, mark how I feel on the gauge, and ask if there’s a problem I want to tackle to see if it’s actionable.

My Dashboard (26 May 2018)

Here’s my take on the exercise.

Health

I’m skinny-fat. I started lifting regularly. The muscles start to grow, but the belly is still there. I also have digestive problems from time to time, experiencing stomach aches or feeling bloated.

My mind often wanders, and I’m not as sharp as before, sometimes feeling a bit forgetful.

I rate my health as 1.5. The problems in this area are:

• I don’t know how to plan a healthy diet, and even if I do, I lack time to prepare nutritious food.

• Sometimes, I miss my regular meal times because I get engrossed in activities.

• I rarely take care of my mental health anymore, neglecting practices like yoga and meditation that I used to engage in.

Work

I work as a business analyst in a software company and also have side jobs in web design and development. While these keep me busy learning, I wouldn’t say they’re my calling.

I rate my work as 2. The problems in this area are:

• I work in a job that I’m not yet proficient in without mentorship, leading to feelings of being lost and overwhelmed.

• I question my value at work and if my strengths are being utilized.

Play

I spend a lot of time on my phone, reading manga, watching movies and TV series, and playing the guitar. Although I enjoy these activities, I often feel guilty afterward, especially when they interfere with work.

I rate my play at 1. The problems in this area are:

• Despite spending hours playing, I still feel unsatisfied.

• I perceive playing as unproductive and feel guilty about not engaging in more productive activities.

Love

I have a good relationship with my family and a caring girlfriend, as well as a few friends, though I rarely spend time with them.

I rate my love at 2.5. The problems in this area are:

• Lack of time due to full-time work and side jobs.

• Preference for solitude over socializing, which affects my relationships.

• Need for alone time to recharge, which impacts social interactions.

Conclusion

Despite feeling generally happy, I realize I have several problems I want to tackle, mostly revolving around dissatisfaction with my work and its impact on other areas of my life.