The Importance of Self-Projects

Sarah Butkovich | Writer

When you decide to make a career out of something you enjoy, you risk making it feel like a chore. You may also begin to believe that you no longer like the hobby you once enjoyed. It’s a terrible feeling. I know how that feels; I have been in that dark sea that drags you in and won't let you go, making you drown in uncertainty and wishing you had never turned what you loved into something you loathe.

I'm sure others have felt the same way. Professional swimmers start to see swimming as simply a race, commercial artists see their work as just something to sell, and even moms who used to cook for comfort may find it challenging to prepare a meal. As we invest ourselves in improving the hobby we used to do for fun, we lose sight of what made it fun in the first place: getting away from work and just relaxing with something comfortable.

When I realized this, I wondered if I should give up on my dream of being a writer. I was on the verge of never writing again when one of my friends stopped me and asked, “Why don’t you take a break from writing for school and write for yourself?”

And that woke me up.

After that, I started working on some self-projects. Writing became less stressful as soon as I started doing this. I felt as though I had broken through the darkness of my mind and found warmth.

I believe that many people forget this. There is a distinction between your work and yourself. You may implement something you enjoy into your job, but you must remember why you enjoy it.