Leisure to Labour
In chasing perfectionism, the line between leisure and labour blurs.
Can you recall the last time you did something just for the fun of it—picked up a camera without worrying about capturing the perfect angle or painted a picture without wondering if it was ‘good enough’? Sharing our hobbies are then met with a family member nudging you to sell your art or a close friend encouraging you to post your progress online for all the likes and views it could accumulate. The pressure to perfect an activity that was never meant to be perfect infiltrates.
Before hobbies became burdened with expectation, they were activities we engaged in for pure relaxation and enjoyment outside of working hours.
In his book Hobbies: Leisure and the Culture of Work in America, Steven M. Gelber explains how the Industrial Revolution diverged the realms of work and leisure. The distinction between working and non-working hours led to the creation of activities that brought purpose to the abundant free time people suddenly had. Avoiding idleness became the main motivation to pursue hobbies. But this time could not just be for rest, it needed to involve a meaningful and productive pastime. Gelber describes hobbies as “productive leisure,” an oxymoron that embodies how hobbies can mimic the pressures of a job.
In today’s productivity-addicted world, Gelber’s term “productive leisure” resonates more than ever. No longer serving personal fulfillment, this type of productivity demands visible results.
A simple hobby has turned into something we track, improve upon, and share results–it has become a performance of a hobby. From this, the need to perfect our hobbies is born; a painting must be portfolio-worthy, a morning jog must be a test of endurance and speed, a crocheted sweater must be good enough to sell on Etsy.
In chasing perfectionism, the line between leisure and labour blurs.
Hobbies should provide us the freedom to experiment and play, yet perfectionism strives to strip us of that liberation. In a world motivated by external validation and reward, it’s easy to forget that hobbies are rooted in intrinsic value. We engage in them because they offer a sense of satisfaction and enjoyment.
Studies show that moments of aimless creation and unstructured recreation are essential to our well-being. Immersing in activities for the sake of fun allows us to slow down and quell the noise of the world, where anxiety and self-judgement might dominate.
Perfectionism manifests a guilt of wasted time and expectations to produce something. Rest is reframed into laziness and our creative outlets are valued on the possibility of generating tangible results. While it might seem like an internal standard we’ve set for ourselves, it stems from a cultural system that forces us to optimize our every moment.
Rooted in capitalist ideas, the perfectionist mindset has caused us to view our hobbies as opportunities for profit over personal enrichment. Partaking in these activities is coupled with thoughts about turning it into a business or making it go viral. We are constantly wondering if it is worth our time if it doesn’t lead somewhere.
This pressure is heightened due to the myriad of financial pressures people face today. With the increased cost of living, many cannot rely on a single stream of income. People feel the need to maximize their time by turning an interest into a source of income. Coinciding with the rise of side hustles, monetizing a hobby is not just a trend but a strategy for survival to keep up with the economy.
Even for those that don’t rely on hobbies for money, the pressure to perfect and perform shifts to the world of social media. Influencers—gaining likes, followers, and a status from sharing their ‘picture-perfect’ lives—have turned personal pastimes into public performances. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram encourage this transformation, shifting the focus of our hobbies from private enjoyment to public posts that garner praise.
In a world that values productivity and profit, it’s easy to forget that hobbies exist simply for personal happiness. Beyond money, likes, and status, the greatest opportunity hobbies provide us is the space to be imperfect and have fun. Reclaiming our hobbies as methods of self-care and creativity allows us to indulge in true leisure.
