We’ve all heard the phrase, “Do what you love and you will never work a day in your life?” Ideas like this one encourage people to view any interests or hobbies they may have as a possible career. Like making earrings? Sell them in an online store. Like baking? Open up a bakery. Like photography? Start your own photography company.

Though I am sure lots of people have happy and fulfilling careers doing the things they love, this type of mindset can be more harmful than helpful.

This idea is even more harmful in this day and age. In this hustle culture, we have attached how successful we are to how much money we make. The obsession with success leads people to turning everything they enjoy into a hustle, or a side-hustle, or a side-side-hustle.

When we feel the need to turn the things we love into a hustle, we strengthen the idea that profit is more important than pleasure. We reinforce the idea that financial gain should be the ultimate pursuit in our lives.

To put it simply, stop trying to monetize your hobbies. Your hobbies should be your source of joy and freedom from the troubles of the world. If you try to monetize all of your hobbies, it will probably end in one of two ways:

1. It does not work out and you lose interest in it all together.

2. It does work out and you end up burning out.

Either way, the one thing you found fun could become a burden in your life. No matter how much you want to avoid it, work will eventually feel like work, and it could change how you see the things you love. You will not enjoy your hobby the same way you used to because you have attached the possibility of profit to it.

I am not saying that there is no joy in turning what you love into a career. Most of us here at Eastern are pursuing careers in things we enjoy. In fact, I am too. I am just saying that it is okay to love a hobby because it brings you joy without expecting to capitalize off it.

I know it is easier said than done, but your ultimate pursuit in life should be to be happy. Allow yourself to devote time and attention to something just because you enjoy it, and let it enrich your life in ways you may not have expected.

Kyara Morales-Rodriguez is a junior English major. She can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].