Time is Money

How did I become someone who has no hobbies?

The aphorism “Time is Money” has come to haunt me. Sometimes credited to an essay written by Benjamin Franklin published in 1748, Wikipedia says was actually originally printed in 1719 in the Whig newspaper The Free-Thinker: 

“In vain did his Wife inculcate to him, That Time Is Money…”

Wherever it originated, to me, it is simply the most American idiom there will ever be. And as a child of the American Dream, one that has followed me since childhood. 

Remember the 90s? When we all used to sit around and watch TV together? Well, the world cup and the olympics were family moments in my house. I became obsessed with the idea of becoming an olympian and my parents were gracious enough to pay for some ice skating and gymnastics lessons, beginning the idea that a hobby could turn into a career. When I started playing after school sports, I quickly learned this could potentially be a path towards a scholarship. Basketball, Soccer, Volleyball, Competitive Cheerleading (Well, maybe not the last one). I was sold on the idea that if you’re really good, you can make it big! Unfortunately for my parents, I was the worst goalie on the team, and unfortunately for me, these sports became a chore once I realized I wasn’t going to gain anything of “value” from them. 

Once I got into high school, any outside hobby had to have a greater purpose for my college application. That continued through to college where any free time had to be spent on something that would look great on job applications. Today, as a freelance producer, “Time is Money” means I need to constantly be applying and pitching myself for the next gig.

As I’m finding myself taking care a bit more of my mental health with meditation, journaling, and therapy, I’m diving into a deeper well within myself and realizing that maybe…just maybe… I don’t actually have any hobbies?!

But wait, I have interests! I have things I like to do, don’t I?

• I love hiking, but I live in NYC and have to have a full free day to get on a train to a mountain upstate.

• I love the beach, but live in a place with seasons. 

• I love to travel, but time and money are both needed for that.

• I love to rollerblade, but find it to be too isolating of a way to spend my time and get bored. 

• I learned to ski two years ago…but I’ve only been once since. 

• I’m a gym girlie, but that’s for my health?

• I love to go on a photo walk with friends … in order to better my skillset to one day get paid to photograph.

• I love to read? 

In 2023, Gallup published a poll that stated that hobbies (and community and money) are more important to Americans today than they were two decades ago. From the start of the origins of a hobby, gender lines divided what they could be for men - photography, chemistry sets, video games - and women - gardening, beauty, and cooking. This divide has even trickled into the way many Americans construct their homes.

In an effort to find some camaraderie, I turned to Instagram and asked:

The 29% of people who said no stated financial/cost of living reasons, being parents and the priorities that come with that, and some simply stated not having time or even an understanding of what their hobby would be if they did. Regional hobbies and access to them such as skiing, hiking, and swimming came up. All reasons I can agree with.

What about the 70% who said yes?

In came an inspiring list of hobbies that has left me with giving myself some grace over what mine could be:

Pole Dancing ~ Pickleball ~ Ceramics ~ Hiking after moving to Northern California ~ Gardening ~ Doing their own manicures ~ Poetry ~ Crochet ~ Writing ~ Photography ~ Painting ~ Musical Theatre Spirals ~ Hockey & Guns ~ Cooking ~ Putting together 1000 piece jigsaw puzzles ~ Reading ~ Baking ~ Being a Harry Potter Girlie

What I’ve concluded from this list and responses is that yes, I simply do need more money to participate in the hobbies I want to explore. BUT, I also need to completely separate them from being any sort of career adjacent activity. Ah, the American Dream. One that I can’t turn into a “side hustle” or it trickles in to quickly becoming a chore.

Until I find a specific one, I’m going to call this my hobby and hope you’ll join me in it this weekend:

Pick a new album that’s out from one of your favorite artist, take your best set of headphones, and go to a park big enough to finish that entire album from start to finish on a walk.

Albums I’m currently diving deeper into:

Deeper Well by Kacey Musgraves

Orquídeas by Kali Uchis

TANGK by Idles

The Spring Equinox arrived this week! And with it comes fresh perspective on tired ideas and approaches to life. I’m ready to reframe and enjoy my silly little hobbies - hope you do too.

Happy Nowruz!