Why you should have a creative hobby (that isn’t your job)

Why you should have a creative hobby (that isn’t your job)

I’m a working artist. I write every day for my full-time job, I help produce indie movies, and in my free time, I write novels and screenplays. I’ve learned how to push through writer’s block, to take breaks when I need them, to lean on my creative community, to write when I’m not in the mood for it, and in general I’ve worked hard to create a healthy creative life.

One element of living a healthy life as a working creative–or a creative who hopes to monetize some aspect of their art–is having hobbies outside of your work. Specifically, having creative hobbies outside of your work. Even more specifically, creative hobbies you never plan to monetize. 

Why is that? Well, it’s for several reasons. One of them is that creativity is a muscle, and flexing it in different ways can only strengthen your skills in other areas. It also gives you the opportunity to experience being bad at something and building your skills, which helps in every area of your life. Being creative in a low-stakes way can be incredibly fulfilling and can “fill your cup” to allow you to continue being creative in your higher stakes work.

Be creative every day

As a writer, I have heard the advice “write every day” more times than I can count. I’m sure that works for some people (Stephen King seems to be doing alright) but for the majority of people I think it’s spectacularly bad advice. When something is a job, not a hobby, it’s not healthy (for most people) to do it every single day. You wouldn’t tell an accountant that they need to spend their weekends crunching numbers. You wouldn’t tell a surgeon that they need to be in the OR seven days a week. In fact, with most careers, most people know that time off is important to your mental health and helps you create a sense of work life balance. So why do we treat creative careers differently?

Just like how more traditional careers need time away from their work, so do writers, filmmakers, graphic designers, painters… the list goes on. 

While “write every day” isn’t healthy advice, I do think it’s healthy to be creative every day. You just might have to be thoughtful about what that looks like for you. I’ve written before about my love of fashion; I get so much creative fulfillment from putting together an outfit I feel great in and finding ways to mix up pieces I already own. The ten minutes that I spend each morning choosing an outfit, getting dressed, and styling the look are a part of my day where I get to be creative in a low stakes way. If my outfit is mid (or even weird or ugly) no one suffers. If I put on something I don’t like, it’s easy for me to try again. Sometimes I challenge myself to style hard to wear pieces, sometimes I think a lot about my energy and vibe for the day, sometimes I just want to look cute. Regardless of how I approach it, this is an opportunity for me to be creative each morning before work. On weekends, I sometimes go thrifting for new pieces, which also allows me to be creative and envision possibilities with each item.

Another creative hobby I have is cooking. All of us have to eat every day, so it’s exciting when preparing food can be fun and creative. I think a lot about what’s in season and take a lot of joy in choosing fresh, healthy, delicious ingredients. Searching for new recipes or creating my own is another way that I get to be creative every day. Sometimes cooking has higher stakes than others–recently I baked a cake for a friend’s birthday party, and I did several test runs to make sure I got it right–but most of the time, a failure in the kitchen just means eating a less than delicious dinner (or in extreme cases, ordering Thai food.) 

One reason why you should have a creative hobby is it allows you to be creative every day, in ways that won’t burn you out in the same way as if you were doing your actual job every single day.

It’s okay to dabble

One issue people have with starting creative hobbies is that they aren’t sure what they’re going to like. I have ADHD and sometimes it feels like my office is a creative graveyard. In 2020, I got really into weaving, wove a few tapestries, and then never touched my loom again. I had a brief affair with floral Legos before discovering they aren’t really for me. Right now I’m really enjoying candle making, but who knows how long that will last. I know myself well enough to know that I like to dabble, which means I create opportunities to try new things… but I’m not willing to sink a lot of money into them.

It’s okay to try something new even if you might not stick with it. It’s okay to try something new even if you suck at it. Going to one aerial dance class is still one opportunity to be creative. Making one painting that is ugly and you immediately throw in the trash is still one instance of you getting outside of your creative comfort zone and trying something new. All this is to say, it’s okay to dabble. Eventually you’ll find something that sticks, and until then, there’s no problem with trying something out and deciding that it isn’t for you. I know myself too well to invest a ton of money into something that might not stick, but you know your life and your budget better than I do. Take a look at thrift stores, Facebook marketplace, and even Groupon to find items or experiences that inspire creativity.

Why you should have a creative hobby (that isn’t your job)

It doesn’t matter if you sell earrings on Etsy, are a professional filmmaker, or are a writer pursuing publication. If you’re a working artist, my number one piece of advice is that you should have a creative hobby that isn’t your job. Ultimately, that’s because making a career out of your art is HARD work. If you don’t have the proper guardrails in place, it’s easy to get burnt out, or to be so focused on what’s marketable or profitable that you don’t get to fully enjoy your creativity anymore. A creative hobby that you don’t plan to ever monetize is a great way to keep something just for yourself. It allows you to fail at something, to be creative in whatever way you want on a regular basis, and can even provide inspiration for your work. Regardless of if you’re trying your hand at gardening, nail art, or sewing, it’s a great way to flex your creative muscles without wearing yourself out.

Do you have a creative hobby that isn’t your job? Get in touch and let us know!