Why you should strategically pick your hobbies

When I was 13 years old, I spent every dollar I earned on golf. I would play two or three times a week and became a pretty good golfer for my age. While I liked golf, it was never really my favorite sport. But my identity had become wrapped up in it, so I kept playing. It was what I and others had come to expect.

As I got older, it dawned on me that spending all my money on a hobby just because I had an aptitude for it or because it was what I was known for didn’t make much sense. So, even though it wasn’t easy, I laid down that part of my identity.

Additionally, over the years, I began better aligning my hobbies with my goals by asking these questions:

1. What if I chose hobbies that weren’t inherently expensive?

2. What if I chose hobbies that could make me healthier?

3. What if I chose hobbies that would generate income?

When I started asking these questions, I began to see hobbies in a different light. Instead of paying $50 a round to play golf, I could play tennis for free, spend less on equipment, and get better exercise. 

So our discussion today isn’t to try to get you to lay down hobbies you love, but instead to evaluate them from time to time to make sure they are still serving you well.

 

Links:

• Watch this episode on our SeedTime Money Podcast YouTube channel (https://youtu.be/a2FbtalbLnU) 

 

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