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Hobbies vs Career

Discussion in 'General Discussions' started by genuinemommy, Sep 6, 2018.

  1. genuinemommy

    genuinemommy Moderator Staff Member

    Do you have hobbies?

    Think hard.

    What do you spend your spare thoughts on?
    Your spare time?

    Do you consider having hobbies a healthy thing?

    Would you like to turn your hobby into your career? I have been hearing about this concept a lot recently. I admit, I have a lot of friends who have jumped into MLM (multi-level-marketing) because of the promise of taking something they like (skin care, makeup, jewelry, clothing, handbags) and turning it into a money making thing for them.

    This is my description of how that mentality has NOT worked well for me in the past. And what I'm doing in my life right now to sort out my life.
    ------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------
    I've taken a hobby (theatre lighting, stage crafts) and made it my job. And guess what? The hours were long. The work was hard. Bones ached. Exhaustion set in. And I realized that there was no separation of work life from personal life. I had no home life. It wasn't ideal for me. It was too physical, too challenging. So I stepped away. And I'm glad that I did.

    But the time that I spent and the skills that I developed in that time of my life was invaluable for me. I learned how to craft things, how to build things, how to research for historical accuracy, and how to care about details.

    I then took another hobby (gardening) and turned it into my life. I pursued a bachelor's and then a PhD in plant biology, with the intention of teaching the topic as a career. Again, no separation of my daily life from my work.

    Or so I thought...

    Until I became a mother. And then I had to separate the two. And I did. And it was hard. But I did it. But my family turned into my hobby, and that wasn't healthy either. The balance was tipped too far in one direction at any given time.

    And now I'm trying to make mothering my focus. While not losing all that I have learned. It's an interesting balance and a different sort of life.

    S0... what are your hobbies?
    Have you pursued them professionally?
    Do you want to?
    What direction would you like to take them later?
     
    • Like Like x 2
    • Dislike Dislike x 1
  2. fflowley

    fflowley Don't just do something, stand there!

    I have quite a few hobbies.
    I really enjoy cycling and Nordic skiing. I’m not nearly good enough at either for anyone to pay me, so no risk of those being anything but a hobby.
    With other hobbies, I have found that the best way to ruin them is to try to make them something more.
    I love to cook. For our family and friends.
    When I have to cook for others or it’s a mandatory thing, I don’t enjoy it.
     
    • Like Like x 3
    • Agree Agree x 1
  3. MeltedMetalGlob

    MeltedMetalGlob Resident Loser Donor

    Location:
    Who cares, really?
    The idea of taking something I enjoy very much and turning it into work is distressing. I would probably grow to resent it, and eventually quit. In any case, I don't see many job openings for playing Dungeons & Dragons. :rolleyes:

    I know some people whose philosophy is to make a career out of something they excel at, and I did try to make a career out of filmmaking- but after years of spinning my wheels uselessly, I've thrown in the towel.

    I like to keep my job separate from my interests. I think as humans, we should be faceted like a jewel. :)
     
    • Like Like x 3
    • Informative Informative x 1
  4. redravin

    redravin Cynical Optimist Donor

    Location:
    North
    I collect vinyl and write columns about it.
    Or I do when I'm mentally healthy.
     
    • Like Like x 3
  5. rogue49

    rogue49 Tech Kung Fu Artist Staff Member

    Location:
    Baltimore/DC
    I do Martial Arts
    I do travel
    I like to collect books (used to do comics)
    I love to collect music
    I would like to start up my art again...painting and drawing

    Hard part...having enough time...and mind.
    Work exhausts me.
    Dating is time consuming too.

    I'm trying to balance it all...but there's only so much me to go around.
    Video Games, Movies and TV just doesn't do it for me anymore.

    I'm tired.
    And I know I do more than when I was younger...and I do it harder.
    So it's not an age thing

    It's a there's only so much time thing.
     
    • Like Like x 3
  6. Joelski

    Joelski Vertical

    This. Turning your leisure time activity into a job will eventually kill your enthusiasm.

    People are given 24 hours in a day; 8 for work, 8 for play and 8 for rest. Play offsets work, and rest resets the body and mind. Alter that balance, and life loses its luster. Sustain that imbalance, and people change.

     
    • Agree Agree x 1
    • Optimistic Optimistic x 1
  7. Stan

    Stan Resident Dumbass

    Location:
    Colorado
    The last thing I need is another expensive hobby.

    I have a nice camera and like to dink around with it; but I'll never be good enough to make money at it.

    I love to ski and might be good enough to get on ski patrol; but I like being able to bail when the weather or snow conditions stink. The fact that I can ski on shear ice doesn't mean that I want to.

    I'm not sure how you make money camping. Campground host, maybe? Doesn't sound appealing to me, I'm not that social and have no interest in cleaning outhouses.

    Is Molly a hobby? If I could find a market for Newfie slobber, I'd be all in. I have no interest in breeding her.

    Motorcyles are fun; but cost money.

    I collect music and the means to play it back; but I can't play any instrument well. Audio engineer might be possible, but I've done my time with loud music in bars.
     
  8. omega

    omega Very Tilted

    Just wanted to clarify, it is labor that got you the 8 hour workday.
     
  9. Joelski

    Joelski Vertical

    Enjoy your 8 hour days.
     
  10. redravin

    redravin Cynical Optimist Donor

    Location:
    North
    I guess my other 'hobby' is modding the unofficial Target employee web site.
    I started doing it back when I was working for Target and when they performanced me out of the job it seemed like a bit of payback to be a guiding hand to thousands of their employees.
     
    • Funny Funny x 1