Growing up, I never understood what it meant to just enjoy an activity. I was very performance-oriented, so I couldn’t comprehend why a person might be internally motivated enough to pursue a hobby– for the sheer joy of it.
This past year, I spent a lot of time blogging here on Simplicity Relished. I wrote several posts at the time defining the purpose of my blog– a hobby and creative outlet so that I would not neglect my writing skills.
Here comes the confession: I don’t think blogging was ever my true hobby. I cared too much about how my blog was received. I cared about its readership, and I cared about my audience. At the very least, I was not just in it for my own enjoyment. I was concerned with numbers, opinions, reactions, and relationships.
But the more important lesson here is this: my general obsession with excellence made it challenging for me to find a relaxing activity– where I could be completely at ease.
The problem with the “side-hustle hobby”
“Side-hustle” must be a buzzword for our generation. So many of us are discontent with our jobs, and we desire nothing more than to begin calling our own shots.
For those who haven’t heard, a side-hustle is usually a project that one works on while employed in another fashion– with hopes of the hustle becoming a legitimate full-time option.
So why is the side-hustle not a real hobby? If you love something enough, then it never feels like work, right?
Perhaps I have yet to see the light, but I believe that work should feel like work, no matter what it is. Thomas Edison famously said, “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”
In other words, most promising side-hustles are hardly hobbies. Side-hustles are work– unpaid, unstable, and often unrecognized work.
So, your side-hustle can’t be your hobby. Here’s the rule: if it’s performance-oriented (and most viable career paths should be), then it can’t double as a leisure activity.Â
Why you need a true hobby: 6 reasons
I remember back in middle school when we learned about the “leisure class,” or the upper crust of any society in human history. These people were defined by the fact that they had free time– a strange concept to many kids who find themselves voluntarily busy.
Having a hobby used to be considered a privilege, and I still think that it is a privilege we have to choose for ourselves. Call me old-fashioned, but I strongly believe in hobbies. If only my performance-oriented self could have realized this years ago, I would have reaped its immense benefits during times when I really needed it.
1) A hobby’s sole purpose is to bring you happiness and intrigue.
How many things can we simply enjoy? Sadly, for many of us, there are few.
A hobby is not about building something new. There is no scheme behind a hobby– it just is. And it allows us to direct our energy toward something that is just for us. Not everything has to be the bootstrap by which we pull ourselves up.
[Tweet “Not everything has to be the bootstrap by which we pull ourselves up. via @daisylinshih”]
2) A hobby helps us distinguish between work and rest.
These days, I wake up and work at full force on my blog until I go to my paying job. In the evenings– like this late evening– I write posts, respond to comments, and schedule social media promotions.
I’m not sure when I became fully conscious of this, but sometimes I work more than 12 hours a day. This blog is not my resting place; I strive for excellence, and I am intentional about it.
My current hobby, on the other hand, is learning about succulent gardening. There’s no timeline, no competition, no strong sense of performance anxiety involved there. When I’m learning about plants, digging around in our patch of dirt, or creating my own arrangements (coming soon!), I am fully at ease in my mind. It’s a good and necessary place to be.
3) A hobby keeps Internet and TV at bay.
I’ve watched my fair share of television and obviously spend a lot of time on the Internet. However, it saddens me that many people spend more free time with their technology than they do with their spouse (source). We default to scrolling through our phones when we don’t know what else to do.
Without a well-developed hobby, our weekends can slip by between episodes and Instagram. And the worst part is, we rarely feel truly rested, much less joyful, do we?
4) A hobby doesn’t have to be competitive.
A hobby doesn’t make any promises to pay the bills or become a breakthrough. It’s focused on the present— being happy, creative, clever, or engrossed– in the here and now.
Despite my natural affinity of competition, I see a huge benefit to resisting that competitive streak. Not everything has to be a matter of success or failure; some things can simply be enjoyable. Not every activity needs an audience; some activities are worth doing for their own sake.
5) A hobby can relieve anxiety and fuel inspiration.
Side-hustles are stressful and tiring; if they don’t induce at least a healthy level of anxiety, then something is wrong.
However, that anxiety needs to be put to rest on a regular basis. Between jobs and side-hustles, our minds are constantly vacillating between building a viable livelihood and maintaining the one we currently have.
Taking a break to do something without any pressure can help us remember that we are not defined by our careers. It’s during these moments of leisure that our minds can refuel– perhaps even re-inspire.
6) A hobby can be enjoyed with people you love.
Work is often done apart from those we love. And even if our work partners are loved ones, it’s important to enjoy activities together that are not all about performance.
My husband and I have developed a great rhythm when we’re in the kitchen together, making meals for friends. And while cooking can be performance-oriented, it has become less that way for us, and more pure fun.
Another friend of mine got me into plants and succulents in the first place– and we like comparing notes, plant-shopping, and helping each other keep our leaf-babies alive.
Hobbies are a simple but effective way to cultivate relationships, old and new.
The bottom-line: don’t work all the time.
The most important step here is to recognize work as work. If an activity carries a lot of weight, promises an extra line on your resume, or is bringing in extra income, then it’s work. (And yes, when a hobby turns into something that makes money, then it’s no longer a true hobby.)
One of my goals is to develop enough true hobbies so that, on any given free day, I’ll have a rewarding, life-giving, enjoyable and shareable activity to pursue. I want to emerge from the end of that free day, feeling refreshed and ready for the work ahead of me. Hobbies are an essential part of the work rhythm– as essential as the work itself.
[Tweet “6 reasons a TRUE hobby is better than a side-hustle via @daisylinshih”]
Thanks for reading this, Chrystina! And a hobby is definitely a non-judgmental, relaxing space, so whatever works for you is probably great!
Loved this. It’s true, my blog has never really felt only like a hobby. I’m wondering if my hobby is actually watching sitcoms. I think I’m okay with that.
Yep! No 5! Because when it becomes a side hustle, it often kills inspiration and brings on anxiety. Even if it’s not quite as bad as if you’re at work at a job you hate, it still becomes stressful and filled with pressure! So true.
Hi Coley! Thank you so much for stopping by. I completely agree that profit is often on my mind when I’m taking on something new. It’s been really good for me to draw clearer boundaries between work and leisure; I enjoy my hobbies more that way!
Seriously! Isn’t it though?! Even on weekends, my work never ends. It’s rare when my mind isn’t thinking about work. Time for new habits!! 🙂
I totally agree! 🙂 I just watercolored today WITHOUT thinking of profit. It’s a miracle! 😉
Haha, Nikki, I was just typing my comment and realized that I do the same thing as you. I keep thinking of taking up new hobbies that will benefit me or make me more skilled with my side-hustle and job, which is great but I’d like to just do a hobby for the fun of it. So hard to get out of that mindset once you’re in it!
Nikki! I’m so glad you stopped by. 🙂 I think it’s tempting for us who work for ourselves to never stop working. I can certainly relate to the entrepreneurial rush to make all our activities profitable, but there are a few we should really protect for sake of our sanity!
Thanks Adriana!! That pressure can make us feel like we’re working all the time; having a balance is better in the long run for our work rhythms.
Yes, Brittany! I’ve experienced so much freedom in being honest about where this blog is at and why I’m working on it so much. It’s helped immensely with work/life balance. And I would also like to read more, preferably not on a screen of any sort.
Just stumbled on your blog from Bloglovin’ and so glad I did!! This is seriously something I needed to read – since I became a full-time wedding photographer all I think about it and do is work.work.work. Even when I discover a new hobby (watercolor) I keep thinking of how can I profit from it – it’s like a disease mindset! Thanks for the inspiration!! 🙂
Thanks for the link! Some helpful tips, fingers crossed for my babies 🙂
So good! I was talking to someone the other day and realized that everything I do I would call like a side job or project but I think I should find something that I can just enjoy with no pressure.
Thank you Kirsten! You’re so right– those of us who are driven, or used to performing at everything, can struggle with truly relaxing. I think learning to relax and pursue a real hobby has helped me draw better boundaries with my work.
Yes, yes, yes! I started my blog thinking it would be a hobby, but it has definitely become a side-hustle . . . which is more than fine with me, but I need to stop thinking of it as a hobby! I need time each week to read, which is the #1 thing that helps me to feel rested and recharged.
Thanks Rachael, I’m really glad this resonated with you. Being honest about my intentions with this blog has helped me draw healthier boundaries– and find something else to do during my free time.
Hey Rachel! Thanks for sharing your thoughts so honestly here. I think it’s easy to get caught up in performance, especially in blogging. We invest so much in our blogs and there are immediate returns that either encourage or disappoint.
I think sewing is a great idea! It’s related to what you love but is much less pressure. I say go for it! 🙂
Absolutely Anna! I’m working on becoming a plant whisperer… I’ll let you know what I glean. 😉
I’m sad to hear you had to give that up– sounds like such a great stress-free hobby. I hope you find something similar to replace it.
Ooh that sounds like a fantastic, pressure-free creative pursuit. Love it.
Absolutely. I think a blog can totally be a hobby, but if it isn’t, we can feel stressed doing our blog stuff when we’re supposed to be having “down time”. Being honest with myself about my intentions for this blog has helped me draw better boundaries between work and leisure. I realized I was working all the time, and I needed to stop and breathe.
Thank you Mica! I think a blog can totally be a hobby– but it’s such a performance-oriented activity that the stress seeps in quickly. Handbags on the other hand, probably less stressful! I have a friend who learned to stitch her own leather bag!
Oh, Alyssa. I feel you. I think I was so performance-driven growing up that it’s difficult to shed that skin and simply enjoy something. You’ll get there though– it can be helpful to build a hobby into a friendship; enjoying something with others helps me relax about it!
Absolutely! I think that calling blogging what it is– rather than pretending it’s 100% leisure– has helped me balance work and life a bit better. And cooking is one of my favorite activities too!
Thank you Erica! I appreciate that. Also, I’m exactly the same way– this blog keeps me writing, but it’s hard work, and cooking relaxes me as well.
Yes! I think blogging can be an awesome hobby if you have no desire to turn it into a career!
Cooking is another hobby of mine, too! You’re a great cook– keep it up!
Absolutely! I think there’s a great misconception when it comes to “making money doing what you love”– we put so much pressure on what we love, without realizing that turning it into a business inherently changes it.
yes!! it’s exhausting when all of your activities are performance-driven. Being honest about my intentions with my blog has helped me draw better boundaries between work and life.
I totally think a blog can be a hobby! It really depends on your attitude and your goals– and as you said, how obligated you feel to it. I’m glad that blogging is that for you, Kiki; it’s allowed us to connect, which is awesome!
That’s great! You get a nice product out of it too!
Thanks Hannah! Yeah, I realized that I was putting so much pressure on my blog and still calling it a hobby– drawing clear boundaries with my work has helped me feel more inspired and less burned out. And you guys have such a great garden!
Yes, absolutely. I think there’s a huge misconception that we can simply “get paid to do what we love.” It’s rarely so simple; there are aspects of work that we can love, but there are many aspects of making money that are not particularly enjoyable. We all need to be more honest about that.
Thanks Jennifer, that means a lot to me! And I have to admit the succulents pictured here are not mine– one was at a botanical garden and the others were at a shop. Still, I promise you can keep your succulents alive; I wrote a post about it here if you’re interested: https://simplicityrelished.com/avoid-killing-your-succulents/
Thanks Camilla. Taking a break occasionally is so important– and not just a break to do more work!
Thank you Carly! Yes, blogs have the tendency to become more than hobbies when we care about growth and performance. I’ve realized that being recognizing this has freed me to find another hobby that truly relaxes me!
Yep, we invest so much effort into our blogs and desire it to perform well– it’s definitely work!
Love this so much! I agree with you on so many points. It can be hard to find a hobby that isn’t, as you put it, a “side-hustle” especially for the very driven woman. Thank you for such a great read.
This post really hits home for me– about blogging. It’s turning into such a huge thing and I love it, but I miss the days when I would post when I wanted and not worry about being controversial, etc. Having a community is one thing, but being number obsessed is another. Thank you for the much needed reminder <3
Hi Daisy, this piece really hit home with me! Although my blog originally started out as a hobby, I find that I become too engulfed with stats and followers like you described. To be honest, it sometimes makes me feel like I’m not good enough. Saying that, writing and fashion and what I’m passionate about. I think I need to invest in another hobby that is purely for relaxation and doesn’t give me any anxiety. For me, this is probably sewing (I’m working on a very relaxing cross stitch project at the moment). Thanks for this post, I honestly thought I was the only person that felt this weird pressure that comes with blogging and I almost felt guilty for feeling this way.
Have a wonderful weekend
Rachel xx
http://www.thedailyluxe.net
I probably need a hobby, especially after reading this. I work too much right now to have much of a hobby. I just recently got into taking pictures. But I think when I get married in January, I may start working on apartment gardening — that could definitely turn into a hobby!
For years I crocheted string shopping bags. Everywhere I went. In waiting rooms, on public transportation, in class, etc. When people asked if I sold them I said yes and charged them only for the materials and only for bags that were already finished. That let my continue to enjoy crocheting them with no pressure. It was a wonderful hobby until a repetitive stress injury made me give up crocheting. I miss it.
Since blogging is too much “hustle” to be a hobby for me, and TV-watching is too mindless, decorating my planner has become my new hobby. I love it!
I think blogging makes it tricky. Part of me just wants a place to share my inspired writing, but another part of me wants to try and make a living or at least some income from my blog. It kind of seems like I have to choose one or the other. There are so many voices out there telling us how to build a successful blog that it can get overwhelming. I think I am still in the discovery phase of my blog and niche. Hopefully someday I can combine my hobby of writing fully from the heart and successfully blogging!
This was another interesting read 🙂
I’ve always thought of my blog as a hobby – I’m not particularly concerned with stats, although I do little things to get my blog out there, but it’s only so I can ‘chat’ to more people 🙂 But it’s true when you think about writing a post and reading other blogs and following up on blog comments that can be a lot of work.
I always used to say handbags were my hobby – reading about them, window shopping for them, learning about them…just don’t seem to have as much time for that now with a baby. Maybe I should try get back into it! 🙂
Away From The Blue Blog
Wow, after reading this I’ve realized that I don’t have a full on hobby, but rather a series of activities I devote myself to and have measures of success for. There is very little time I just take a moment to enjoy what I am doing. For example, I love to read and set a reading goal at the beginning of the year. If I notice that I’m not on track with my goal I feel pressured to increase my reading speed and instead of enjoying a book am already trying to determine when I can move on to the next one. This post has completely inspired me to remove that sort of pressure from myself in this regard. Thank you!
I agree 100%. Your perspective on blogging is very interesting. I’ve always thought of my blog as a hobby, but I treat it more like a job. And it can sometimes cause unneeded stress in my life. Now that I’m reading this, I would say reading and cooking are probably my true hobbies.
SERIOUSLY, Love this post, so much to think about. As a side-hustler myself, I totally get the needing to have a hobby. I love what I do but definitely is not at all relaxing even if it does allow me be creative! I would say cooking is my hobby!
I totally agree! I would definitely say that blogging is my hobby since there is no hidden agenda behind it but I just love to blog. This was a good reminder!! 🙂
I would say cooking is my hobby. I could spend hours trying to come up with something and I also researched A LOT before coming up with a dish. It’s also one of the most therapeutic thing for me to do.
Shireen | Reflection of Sanity
I couldn’t agree more. It’s hard when there is the whole idea to do what you love but then that thing that you love becomes this thing around your neck!
I really need to work on allowing myself a hobby that isn’t based on work or achieving something!
I guess when I look outside the box and from where you are coming from, I really have no hobbies. I do consider my blog a hobby. I post when I feel like it and the relationships I’ve formed through blogging are so dear to my heart the really make the day bright. I’ve never considered blogging a hassle, work. But again, I do it for fun. Outside of blogging, maybe photography? Which I’m not amazing at, but still really enjoy it. (:
http://www.accordingtokiki.net
Crocheting and knitting is my hobby and not a side hustle. I just love making things and giving to people. I wouldn’t want it to be a side hustle because I knit when I want to and I TRUELY enjoy it.
This is great, Daisy! While I suppose I tend to say that blogging is my hobby, I really do take it much more seriously than that. My husband and I do have a lot of other little interests – some shared, some not – that we really enjoy (he loves his cacti, too!) and I honestly think I use those activities to rest from not only my full-time job, but also my “blogging work.” Thanks for this great reminder! It got me thinking. 🙂
I’m not a side-hustle fan. I’m the romantic idealist who gets way more excited about doing anything that doesn’t make money than anything that does make money. Earning a living is necessary, sure, but there’s a whole lot more joy in simply doing something because you really enjoy it and it builds you up and renews you.
Great advice … but so hard to follow! I’ll have to think about what my hobbies really are. I’ve killed all my succulent babies (your’s look so beautiful.) Maybe travel but I just started blogging so I have a feeling that may become more ‘side hustle’ and less hobby! Lovely post and BEAUTIFUL site. x Jen
I really enjoyed this piece! You’re so right and I definitely need to remember all of these things and take a break from it all every once in a while!
This is such a great article Daisy! So well written, and honestly I couldn’t agree more. I have been thinking about my blog lately – and you are so right, it is a side hustle, not a hobby. It started as a hobby but no way that is still the case! x
This is so something I have to keep in mind! And I so agree with you, I used to think blogging was my hobby but you are right, it is a side hustle not a hobby. Taking time to do no work just something you enjoy is so important! Thanks for the reminder, I need to do more of not working and just enjoying.