Have you noticed that nobody really has a hobby anymore, instead now it’s a side hustle or social media project? Like people that game a lot will end up streaming, people that do arts and crafts will sell jewelry or prints, and people that cook will make cooking videos to share their recipes online.
It feels like no matter what, the idea of a time passing hobby is almost dead in today’s modern age. With social media being so prominent, and the cost of life being so high, it seems like everything you do has to be something that can generate revenue instead of something you do just for fun.
It leads into an idea that your personal life is no longer your personal life, but an extension of your LinkedIn profile. Something that can build your resume, a personal brand update, or money in general is seen as a waste of time. It’s almost as if when there is no yield, it’s a waste of time.
How many times have you heard from your friends when you’re making something that you should post videos on YouTube, or that you should sell it? I’ve heard it a couple of times, and it feels like I’m not allowed to do anything for fun anymore.
It’s almost as if my job is funding my hobby, which is for some reason, going to take over my professional career. I felt it lead to burnout for many of my passions, leading to me not wanting to actually do them when all they originally supposed to do was to be something that helps me unwind or kill time.
Two People Cooking, a Hobby That Has Turned Into A Business For A Lot Of People (Credit: 089photoshootings via Pixabay)
There’s easy ways to tell if you have fallen into this culture trap as well. If you have a premade template for your morning routine that looks more corporate than something that a normal human would do, or if you’re seeing if your friends have added value to your personal brand instead of just being your friends.
That’s not what a hobby is supposed to be, and seeing the death of it is sad. Bring back the time wasters, the things that we do for fun. Not everything has to be something that is done for money, or something that will burn you out.
Take a step back, and see what in your life you’ve industrialized as opposed to just do for pure enjoyment. That will save you both a headache, and a lot of friendships.