What happens when your hobby becomes a job?

What do you do when the thing you love to do the most starts to actually feel like work? 

After all, this is what you wanted, right? 

You finally have the freedom to spend your days doing the thing you love the most, all while getting paid to do it. 

The problem is, no matter how much you love something, once the transition is made from hobby to business, it inevitably becomes a job. 

It’s just a matter of time. 

And as is the case with any job, there will be times when you struggle to show up. 

Things like burnout, overwhelm, financial stress, time management, and even shifting interests can cause headaches for even the most successful creative entrepreneur. 

So how do you navigate that? 

What’s going on 

When you first start building a side hustle or pursuing a creative outlet, you are free. 

Free to create when you feel like it and free to set it aside when you don’t. 

There’s no pressure because there are no expectations. 

You have no customers. 

No clients. 

No deadlines. 

And because there are no strings attached, this creative outlet serves you and you alone. 

Freedom is the reward. 

Sure, you may have dreams and goals attached to what you’re doing, but if you never achieve them, there’s nothing lost but your time. 

And you still get the reward of freedom and creativity. 

But if you build something other people want, the aforementioned liberties go away. 

You’ll have customers, clients, deadlines and expectations placed upon you, many of which you couldn’t possibly have foreseen. 

There will be days you get overwhelmed, feel burnt out, or just don’t want to show up. 

And you’ll find yourself wanting to pass the time away with, you guessed it, a side hustle or creative outlet that gives you freedom. 

The issue, of course, is that the side hustle or creative outlet you used to enjoy is now the very thing from which you long to escape. 

Ironic, no? 

Rest assured, it happens to the best of us. 

What to do about it 

First, it’s important to keep your eye on what matters most—running your business. 

Because your hobby is now your source of income, you have to put it first. 

This means showing up when you don’t want to, pushing through burnout, and maintaining your reputation as a dependable provider. 

Because if the business you’ve worked so hard to create goes under, you’ll be left with a much larger set of problems than it feeling like “work”. 

Second, accept that your hobby is no longer just your hobby. 

It’s something more, and that’s a good thing. 

But you can still take time to reconnect with the core of what drew you to your passion in the first place. 

If you’re a photographer, set aside regular time to get out in the world and just take photos for you. 

If you’re a musician, create songs simply for the joy of making them. 

Of course, in my experience, this isn’t always enough. 

Enter: new creative pursuits. 

Find your outlet 

You’ve turned your passion into a business. 

Congratulations. 

But every creative person needs an outlet that is just for them. 

That passion and creativity is what fills your tank and gives you fuel to serve others with your gifts. 

So if you’re struggling to keep the fire alive with the passion-turned-business, it might be time to explore other interests. 

Try creating something in a completely different medium than you’re used to. 

Maybe you run a video editing business, but you’ve always wanted to paint. 

Perhaps now is the time. 

Or maybe you’re a music producer, but you’ve always been fascinated with woodworking. 

Do it. 

The important thing is to keep that process of creativity and self-discovery alive and well. 

Nurturing your interests nurtures the soul. 

And we all need it. 

So if you’ve reached that place where you’re spending your days doing what you love but it’s starting to feel more and more like work, maybe it’s time to tap into the unknown again. 

Rediscover the beginner’s mind, and take a chance on something new. 

That fuel on your creative fire may just reignite your passion for your work and empower you to better serve others with your gifts. 

And that’s always a good thing.