I purposely didn’t ask do you have any. I want to assume that we all have something in our lives that we do just for fun, something that makes us feel joyful, something that makes us forget, for a moment, that the world outside even exists. Unfortunately, I know many people whose only hobby is scrolling social media.
Somewhere along the way, many of us forgot what it feels like to do something just because we want to and not because it’s productive, impressive, or shareable. We started treating hobbies like achievements, turning them into side hustles or perfectly curated online moments.
But hobbies were never meant to be polished. They were meant to be ours. A safe space. A small break from everything you’re supposed to do and be.
The moment we turn a hobby into something that needs to perform, to bring money, attention, or validation, it changes. What once felt like play starts to feel like work.
We begin measuring progress, tracking growth, and comparing ourselves to others who are better at it. Suddenly, it’s not enough to paint for peace, now you need a portfolio. It’s not enough to bake for comfort, now you need perfect photos, a following, and a catchy caption.
There’s nothing wrong with wanting to share your passion or even make it a career if it feels right. But when every source of joy becomes a source of pressure, it leaves little room for the kind of creativity that exists simply for the love of it.
We lose the freedom that makes hobbies healing in the first place.
I realised I’ve fallen into this trap myself. I love baking – mixing ingredients, trying new recipes, changing some, but I’ve noticed the thoughts creeping in. They’re just okay, but they’re not perfect.
I love learning, languages especially. It thrills me when I can understand new words in another language. But again, perfectionism kicked in. You’re doing just okay, but you’re not fluent.
And I love reading. All kinds of genres. Sometimes I read a few books at once. I won’t even say how many nights I’ve stayed up because – just one more chapter. But then comes the voice. You read only 20 books this year, you could’ve read more.
Somewhere along the way, joy became something to evaluate. Every little thing that once made me feel free started to carry a quiet expectation – to do more, be better, reach higher.
The productivity culture has convinced us that resting or doing something unproductive is a waste of time. But our minds aren’t built to run on efficiency alone. We do need stillness. And we do need to play. No matter how old we are.
Hobbies give us that space. They quiet the outside noise and bring us back to simply being. When we bake, draw, sing, play an instrument, knit, or garden, or anything that allows us to focus just on that one thing, we step out of survival mode and can be present in the moment. And let’s be real, in the world we live in today, when was the last time you were truly present? Fully in the moment, not replaying what’s already happened or worrying about what still needs to be done?
So take this as a reminder to go back to your old hobbies, or try some new ones.
Also think about it – in a world where we’re constantly asked to be more, do more, and prove more, choosing to do something just because it makes you happy can be seen as an act of quiet rebellion.
Take care,
Kristina
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