The duality of a Hobby

The Balance We Struggle For

Hey Y’all

Hope you are living well!

I have been so busy lately with client work and a few brand deal stuff. Probably the most work i’ve had on my plate at one time the entire year.

This industry really does give you work all at once or nothing at all lol.

In addition to working too much, I have also been doing something else too much

PLAYING VIDEO GAMES

The duality of having a good hobby is that it allows you to recharge and take your mind off of work. The downside is if you love it just a little too much it can start to get in the way of the work itself.

Deadlock

Lately, I’ve been hyper-fixated on this game called Deadlock. It’s a MOBA-type game, kind of like League of Legends or Dota, but it feels more like a hero shooter, similar to Overwatch because It’s in third person instead of the usual top-down view.

But if you’re unfamiliar with those games, that’s totally fine—that’s not really the point.

The main thing I wanted to talk about is addiction—being addicted to something like that. I go through phases where I get super into a video game, a hobby, or some creative pursuit.

And it’s strange, because when I’m not in those phases, I don’t think about them at all. I can go six months without turning on my PS5 or loading up my PC.

But once a game clicks with me, I get consumed by it.

All I can think about is finishing my work for the day so I can play.

When I’m out doing stuff, I’ll be texting my friends asking:
”When are we hopping on?”

And honestly, it’s not necessarily a bad thing. Having a hobby is important—it helps recharge your creative energy so you can return to work feeling fresher.

When I’m not addicted to something like this, I tend to overwork. I end up filling the same time with work instead of doing something just for fun.

Not to say i don’t enjoy a lot of my design work, but you get the point.

The problem arises when it starts taking up too much time. I’ve noticed myself staying up until 1, 2, even 3 a.m., telling myself, Just one more match.

I mean, we can’t end on a bad one, right?

This game is just too fucking good, it’s the most fun I’ve had in a game since Overwatch or even COD MW2.

It’s definitely a grass is always greener situation though.

When I’m not in one of these phases, I find myself yearning for them. Now that I’m deep into this one, I worry that it’s consuming too much of my mental energy.

But this isn’t really about having a fun game to play. It’s more about moderation. Having hobbies is good, but when they start to encroach on your creative and fulfilling work, that’s when it becomes a problem.

It’s easy to chase quick dopamine fixes instead of focusing on the meaningful, creative work that brings delayed gratification.

Once this phase passes and I’m locked back into my work, I’ll probably start longing for something new to look forward to each night.

Does anyone else go through this with their hobbies?
I’ve experienced it with building Gunpla, rock climbing, skateboarding, and more.

Every time I go through one of these phases, I learn a little more about how to control it in moderation. But it’s still a learning process.

So, what are you spending too much time on right now? Is it taking away from your design or artwork?

Much love, and talk soon.

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