Riding the Hobby-go-round
As a multi-passionate individual, I have often beaten myself up for not being consistent. I’d ask myself "Why can’t I stick to this ONE thing? Everyone else says to be disciplined and consistent!" I would beat myself with a metaphoric hammer, angry that I was failing.
Then I heard someone say I was just riding the Hobby-go-round.
Suddenly, my changing passions weren’t ‘bad‘.
This was a whimsical aspect of being me. My hobbies were like the horses that you can ride on a carousel. Sometimes they just weren’t available. But eventually I can get on them again.
Looking at hobbies as a Hobby-go-round changed a couple things for me.
- I wasn’t a bad person for having multiple hobbies and not keeping up with all of them all the time.
- Hobbies can stay dormant for some time — even a long time — and that’s okay. The hobby horse can suddenly become available when the time is right.
- Knowing that the hobby horses are only available to ride for an unknown amount of time, my job is to use my enthusiasm wisely.
Rules for riding a hobby horse
- Know that this go-around on the Hobby-go-round will end. That is okay. Rides end. I can go again.
- Knowing that the ride will end, plan to make your exit. This is a mindset shift.
- Make it easy to get off the ride. Try not to make hasty plans that will upend my life because I am convinced I will be forever devoted to this hobby (seriously, don’t do it). Identify possible end points, so I feel like I’m making progress. These can be milestone-based or process-based.
- Leave a record — What do I need to do to feel like I’ve spent my time with this hobby productively? Probably make something. Take notes, make art, dance—this gives me a positive memento from the time I spent on the hobby and also helps the hobby horse be available for another ride sooner.
- Reflect on what the hobby is teaching me. Based on what I’m learning from the hobby right now, how might I be able to incorporate it in simple ways when I’m no longer obssessed with this hobby?
- Reflect on my other hobbies. Based on other hobbies I’ve enjoyed before, what can I borrow and apply to this hobby?
- Appreciate the time on the hobby horse. It won’t last forever. Enjoy!
If we go back to the metaphor, these rules are about safely riding the hobby horse and making the hobby horse more awesome and exciting to ride on next time. 💗
My current hobby horse is solo roleplaying, if you couldn’t tell.
So I’ve been making the most of my energy and interest. I’ve been looking at how this hobby relates to others, creating things out of joy (not obligation) and trying to apply restraint (no intense shopping sprees or signing up for year-long obligations). 💗 Maybe I’ll keep playing solo every day for the rest of my life, or maybe I’ll only play once a year when this phase ends. Who knows? Whatever may come, I will make the most of this time.
My hobbies come in cycles and fluctuation. And that’s okay.
This post is an article for the November round-up of IndieWeb Carnival. Every month, a member of the IndieWeb provides a topic for everyone to write a post on. This month, Alex wants us to reflect on cycles and fluctuations, which is exactly why I’m talking about the Hobby-go-round. 🥰