In Defense of Hobbies
Technology is steadily expanding the reach of work. The debate rages on: should we integrate work more into our lives or fight back for rest and relaxation? We sometimes talk about work-life balance and unplugged vacations in the same sentence as having a side hustle and “leaning in”.
I don’t have an answer to this quandary; it’s something I struggle with every day. But I do object to the idea that life splits neatly into work and vacation. Instead, I’m here to advocate for an old-fashioned idea: hobbies.
Why hobbies? They occupy the middle ground between work and play. Hobbies flex your learning muscles, rejuvenate you, and can even improve job skills.
What’s a hobby?
It’s unrelated to your job, and isn’t aimed at making money. This is crucial. Even if the activity isn’t work-related, if it’s aimed at making money, it’s a second job or side hustle disguised as a hobby. Career advancement activities and side hustles are valuable, but don’t have enough play to be hobbies.
It’s generative or goal-based. Watching TV and reading books aren’t hobbies because they’re consumption-focused. A hobby should require some doing. It can be generative, where you create something new at the end (e.g. a blog post). Or instead, you could aim to achieve a goal (e.g. learning a musical instrument). The creation or achievement of something is the “work” part of the hobby equation.
It could be short- or long-term. Some hobbies are lifelong journeys, but others are something you try for a season and stop doing. The lifelong ones can sustain you, but a hobby doesn’t need to be longterm to be valuable. A short-term hobby might introduce you to someone interesting or teach you about your preferences. In any case, it’s an interlude that makes a season more memorable.
What’s so great about generative or goal-based activities that aren’t related to your job or income?
It doesn’t rest you; it energizes you. There’s a lot of emphasis on self-care in the media right now, on meditation and massages and hygge. There’s nothing wrong with rest when you need it, but we overemphasize its importance. I’m often tired after a day at work. But putting in the energy to play always gets me excited, whether that’s writing a little bit, plucking on an instrument, or planning a caper. Watching television sounds restful but I often feel more tired afterwards, not less.
It distracts you from work. If your hobby is engaging enough, it consumes your attention. When I have a tough day at work, trying to relax can leave me chewing on the problem in the background. Focusing on something else lets that part of my brain rest and I often discover a creative solution when I engage again.
It’s a low cost way to fail and learn. I took a beginner snowboarding lesson this year and I was terrible. I couldn’t steer, fell down dozens of time, and gave my husband bruises. And you know what? I had a blast. Hobbies let you try and fail with no consequences, which prepares you to fail and learn in other contexts.
It cross-pollinates ideas and skills. How does an activity that’s not related to work improve your work? There’s some magic to the junction between work and play. Long-distance running taught me how to persist when I’m uncomfortable, and I often use those tactics to tackle work problems. Writing this blog has connected ideas from across my life that gave me new strategies at work. Organizing a book club has introduced me to interesting people from a range of careers. You can’t predict how a hobby will improve your work life, and that’s part of the point.
Ok, sold. How do I get a hobby?
Add structure to something you’re already doing. Adding a goal or creative aspect to something you already do can deepen its meaning in your life. If you like to exercise, try making a goal to complete a race or organize an event. Or try documenting something you already do, whether that’s writing about it, photographing it, or taking video.
Listen to your nerves. If an activity gives you butterflies in your stomach, pay attention to that. This feeling is the source of many of my short-term hobbies and capers, and has led to some memorable experiences. A little fear is good — it makes the fruit of your efforts taste sweeter.
Protect the time. Don’t feel guilty about pursuing your hobby — it’s an investment in yourself. Sometimes that means getting up early on a weekend or skipping out on drinks. Your hobbies make you more interesting and enthusiastic; that’s worth a few tradeoffs.
Consider this permission to learn to knit, fall down a snowy hill, or start drafting that novel. I’ll cover for you when your boss calls 😃.
Meta Note: This blog is one of my hobbies. Thanks for reading and encouraging me to stretch myself!
