The Joys and Challenges of Being a Serial Hobbyist

I used to think that there was something wrong with me; I had far too many interests and hobbies. University life was a whirlwind of activities and “doing nothing” was never on the menu. Chill and laidback weekends didn’t exist either (my roommate can attest to this, she’s a lawyer). I was always right in the thick of things, from dipping my toes into debate training (lasted for only two sessions), to taekwondo (earned a black belt), karate (1 year), storytelling (one-time contest), marathons (loved it although I was unfit as heck), to public speaking and joining random events just for fun.

Even now, with more old hobbies resurfacing, I need to be doing something in my free time or else that familiar, inkling guilt would weigh me down. Time is precious and my situation with other commitments currently sit on a precarious balance ready to tumble down and fall apart.

Wikipedia is telling me that having so many hobbies isn’t always a bad thing to have, because apparently, it “can be a source of personal enrichment and intellectual curiosity”. I guess I can see where they’re going with this idea – staying curious, constantly discovering new things, and embracing a multifaceted life sounds pretty amazing. Imagine a life where no two days feel exactly the same – where boredom is practically a foreign concept because you’re always exploring, learning, and growing. Where can I sign up?

However, one website I came across says it could be ADHD (!!!) (Mr Google, can we stop with the jumping to conclusions part?) because of my struggle to prioritise the right things and not knowing what to do first. Now, before I spiral down that particular rabbit hole, let me just say: I don’t have ADHD, but the tips they suggest seem helpful for my situation. The key takeaways? Reprioritisation and making my hobbies work for me, not against me. It’s about creating a system where all these amazing interests synergistically blend into my life, rather than creating a constant tug-of-war.

Nowadays, although the guilt still burns pointedly at the back of my mind, I try not to care that I may be a serial hobbyist. The “so what” and “who even cares” are things I always have to tell myself so that I simply just do whatever I feel like doing. Even if I end up not sticking to anything permanently, at least I enjoyed myself at the end of the day. At least I made someone smile with what I make. It’s not a competition, nothing is chasing me at my heels to become a specialist in reading or playing video games. I’m just here for the moment and if I want to, I could always come back for another round.