Someone asked me if writing was a hobby or something I was aiming to do professionally.
I was thrown at first. I consider myself an aspiring writer even though I’ve written a lot. Questions raced through my mind. Am I a real writer? Do I want to publish my novel?
The real answer is somewhere in the middle.
A hobby is something you do in your free time for personal satisfaction. You do it because you choose to and not because you’re getting something out of it. Hobbies can be things like reading, writing, journalling, listening to music, singing, watching TV and so on.
Hobbies are an important part of our lives. They can help us when life gets stressful and help keep us active and engaged. Some hobbies can improve health or help with increasing social skills. Focusing on activities you enjoy allows you to forget about work and other worries, allowing you to relax and drift elsewhere even for a short while.
Going back to writing, I admit to taking it somewhat seriously. I treat it like a job, in a sense. I give myself deadlines. I track projects across spreadsheets and multiple documents. I spend hours on it and put myself under real pressure to finish each project.
Naturally, this led to some serious burnout for a while. I quit writing for several years beyond some smaller projects. I had to decide if writing was a hobby or something I seriously wanted to pursue.
The answer is still somewhere in the middle, but my outlook has changed.
Instead of putting pressure on myself, I have gone back to writing for fun. I write because I choose to and not because I’m trying to make a bestseller list. I have a working manuscript that I may shop at some point, but I also have smaller side projects that are always there for me when I need to chill out for a minute.
Having a hobby can enhance your emotional health by making you feel a sense of pride and boosting your self-esteem. Whenever I finish writing something, I like to think of it as a nice little extension of myself that I’m setting free. Creating something also leaves you with tangible evidence of the skill, time and effort you have invested in it.
Feeling sluggish and lethargic? Engaging in a hobby can help. It might not seem like it, but writing involves a lot of problem-solving and strategy. From grammar to structure or whether that cliffhanger is a good idea. Dealing with these twists and turns can reinforce memory and the ability to solve issues. Reading and writing also stimulate the mind, keeping it fresh and active.
The one thing that eludes me is having a writing routine. It’s in my habit tracker in my planner, and yet, I am unable to find a set time to sit down and write. Scheduling time to work on activity can help alleviate stress and create a balance between the everyday pressures of life and our need for some downtime. One way I have incorporated this into writing in the past is by doing a challenge. This could be having to write a set amount of words in a period of time or having a large goal split into daily chunks.
And on that note, one of the most important aspects of having a hobby is…finding like-minded people! I participated in a summer writing camp this year, and it was a lot of fun. I managed to overcome my fear and share my work, and I found a lot of value in reading and providing feedback for other writers. Hobbies with a social aspect give us a sense of belonging, foster collaboration and allow us to build up friendship groups or networks. This can help combat loneliness, anxiety and depression.
Last but not least, having a hobby is a great way to work on your personal development. It helps you to learn, grow, improve and find out new things about yourself.
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