When Corporations Start Scheduling Our Lives

We often hear corporations argue that government regulations are bad for business. They frame regulations as roadblocks to innovation, competition, and consumer choice. But here’s the irony: while corporations want to free themselves from government oversight, many are quietly working to regulate us, the people, by influencing how we live, think, and even love.

This realization hit me recently while watching a news segment. A doctor specializing in "sex therapy" was interviewed, suggesting that couples should schedule their intimacy the same way they schedule business meetings, complete with reminders and preparation time. At first, it seemed like a quirky, even harmless idea. But then I paused. Why is this message being amplified? Why does it keep popping up in media conversations?

The more I thought about it, the clearer it became: corporations aren’t just selling us products anymore; they’re increasingly selling us ways of life. From what we eat, to how we exercise, to how we manage relationships, there’s a creeping normalization of corporate-defined efficiency in our most personal spaces.

It’s subtle. It doesn’t come with the force of a government regulation, but with repetition and reinforcement, it starts shaping cultural norms. Before long, “efficiency” and “optimization” stop being buzzwords for the workplace and start defining how we live at home. And that’s where it gets uncomfortable.

So here’s the question: while corporations push against government rules meant to keep them in check, are they quietly imposing their own rules on us? Are we trading genuine freedom for a life managed like a corporate calendar?

It’s worth reflecting on. Because the more these messages repeat, the less they feel like suggestions, and the more they feel like expectations.

What do you think? Are corporations subtly shaping our private lives, or is this just the byproduct of a hyper-connected, productivity-obsessed culture? I’d love to hear your perspective.