does any one find their hobby now a chore?

[Original Poster]

I was just wondering how many other people are like me....I studied web development from a fairly young age of 15, now 22 I feel like I cant enjoy it any more...I keep trying to get into other fields but my web dev background is so strong with experience and skills every time I go for something..like android or java work they look at the web dev and change to interviewing me about that...driving me crazy

[greenwizard88]

You should never back down from boasting about yourself, especially in an interview! However, I would explain that you're applying for a non-web development job because you want a change, so while you know javascript, you would like to move to java, for a change.

 

Something like "bla bla bla learned 20 different ways to make text fly across the screen with javascript, and I can use this knowledge to make your java apps prettier". Except, you know, with a real example. "bla bla bla I have to be on my toes to keep up with the fast paced web-dev world, translates to java somehow..."

 

Edit: And yes, I find once I started writing apps, and getting paid, the joy turned into a job. It's still fun, but not nearly as fun.

[Max Norris]

Started coding when I was ~10 or so in the late '70s. Still doing it, self employed for the past decade or so. Hobby turning into a chore doesn't begin to describe it lol.. a lot of it is the subject matter (IE, business oriented software that can make me go from awake to snoring in 5 lines of code or less) but I still do enjoy it. Usually.

But you're the one that's got to live with the decision.. if you're not digging your job then definitely consider a switch. Especially at 22, you got plenty of options.

[Dot Matrix]

And people wonder why I'm no longer interested in customizing my operating systems like I use to do during the XP days. At this stage it's a chore I no longer have the time or energy to do.

[Chicane-UK Veteran]

And people wonder why I'm no longer interested in customizing my operating systems like I use to do during the XP days. At this stage it's a chore I no longer have the time or energy to do.

 

I've found this with a lot of my hobbies and interests over the years. You wonder if it's something wrong with yourself, or whether you've just moved on. 

[+John Teacake MVC]

I think it depends if you rely on it for work, Especially if you are dealing with End Users and customers those people are a drain on your energy.

[Nick H. Supervisor]

One of my hobbies is technology. At work, I fix computers. Sure, it has its frustrations at times, but overall I can't see myself anywhere else. However, in the past couple of weeks a friend has started contacting me about computer things. My sister messaged me this morning for recommendations on an external hard drive. I hooked up a network printer in another friend's house the other night. It's not always a big deal, but if I'm run down from my day in the office then the last thing I want to do is fix my own computer, nevermind friends and family's computers.

[seta-san]

lie on your resume. exaggerate your skills on java and downplay your skills in web development.

[Original Poster]

I think it depends if you rely on it for work, Especially if you are dealing with End Users and customers those people are a drain on your energy.

I think this is my problem ...cause i am always in direct contact with clients mainly being a contractor...just makes me hate the work...or atleast people and i just accosiate my work with these people..

[Ash]

I love playing MMORPGs but I seem to get a little ocd with it sometimes. Leveling all the alts, all the professions, having to auction tons of stuff I collect or craft in order to make money to fund more alts and professions, etc... Sometimes it starts to feel like a second job heh.

 

I usually end up taking breaks from the game when that happens.

[+virtorio MVC]

lie on your resume. exaggerate your skills on java and downplay your skills in web development.

That will only take you so far, such as upper management or the CEO.

[thomastmc]

This same thing happened to me when I started developing as work instead of for fun... I would suggest taking on something really challenging, even if it's just in your free time.

 

Often the reason we become bored in these situations is because what we were building when it was a hobby was something just for fun that we wanted to make, and it was challenging.

 

Imagine the coolest thing that you could possibly develop, or look for someone doing something really interesting with a startup, and make sure it's something that you're not sure if you can do (or is even possible) or not.

[JustGeorge]

Honestly, its not computers themselves that I'm tired of, its dealing with adware/malware on people's personal computers and the antiquated, slow-ass garbage PCs/Servers @ work. I wish I could go back to building PC's for fun and go to work with someone more knowledgeable than I so I could learn new tricks.

[astropheed Veteran]

Just be happy you're doing a Job you at least somewhat enjoy and are good at; you're already doing better than the vast majority of the world. I know it kind of sucks when your skills become your job, but trust me, it could be far, far worse. Also, you're practically a baby in the working world, you have plenty of time to change career paths and you most likely will 2 or 3 times.

[Dotdot]

Spent my youth 15-22 doing web dev and the likes. And much like you got so burnt out on it, I just kinda folded in on myself.

Ive now been working in various other service industries at rates of pay that make slave labour seem attractive.

Thankfully my main background has and always will be Art&Design so im now starting to think about illustration, possible free-lancing, and/or getting set up as a tattoo artist.

So Ive still got options and Im a young man.

I will say this tho, due to the length of time Ive been away, the changes are vast. Web 2.0 etc, YIKES!

If your feeling burnt out, I wouldnt completely stop, like I did. That was a mistake as im now having to re-learn vast amounts of information.

Keep active but at a much dimished rate. Have a personal experimental site or something purely for you to keep that little bit of it alive.

As I,ll wager Im not alone in forgetting things with age and passage of time.

[Growled Member]

This has never happened to me. I've always love computers and I still do. I like for people to bring me their problems for me to figure them out. I still like learning something new every day. I hope that never changes because it would suck to get burnt out.

[Dick Montage]

I started DJing as a hobby.  I now DJ about 3 nights a week and while the money is fantastic* I sometimes wish I'd say no to gigs.

 

* Last year I thought about giving up and pushed my rates to almost double.  Oddly I somehow got more bookings.  This year I added another ?100 and still get more.  Weirdness, but at ?600 a gig, I'm not gonna say no.

[+Fahim S. MVC]

I don't understand how a hobby can become a chore unless you force yourself to do it when you don't want to.

 

A hobby is something that you do when you want to, and only when you want to.

If there is a compulsion to do other than to maintain momentum, it's no longer a hobby it's work.

I'd personally would say that if you have to do it to maintain momentum it still isn't a hobby.

 

So no, I don't find any of my hobbies a chore.  Sometimes work I do is.

[+John Teacake MVC]

I started DJing as a hobby.  I now DJ about 3 nights a week and while the money is fantastic* I sometimes wish I'd say no to gigs.

 

* Last year I thought about giving up and pushed my rates to almost double.  Oddly I somehow got more bookings.  This year I added another ?100 and still get more.  Weirdness, but at ?600 a gig, I'm not gonna say no.

 

Bloody Hell thats excellent!!

 

I don't understand how a hobby can become a chore unless you force yourself to do it when you don't want to.

 

A hobby is something that you do when you want to, and only when you want to.

If there is a compulsion to do other than to maintain momentum, it's no longer a hobby it's work.

I'd personally would say that if you have to do it to maintain momentum it still isn't a hobby.

 

So no, I don't find any of my hobbies a chore.  Sometimes work I do is.

 

What most likely happens is that someone has a hobby they enjoy, Excellent. So they think that they can do this as a job and get paid to do what they enjoy doing but with the combination of toxic work enviroments, budget pressures and managers and clueless people they are surrounded by it quickly turns into a chore that they need to do to earn money, Everyone needs to earn money right???

[NightScreams]

I used to love auto mechanics and went to school for it when I was young. During that time I just suddenly got really burned out on it and gradually stopped. Now I hate it, I won't even change my own oil anymore.

 

I'm now finding the same thing with computers. It started as a hobby to learn and diagnose and evolved into gaming. Now I don't work on peoples PC's anymore, I don't want anything to do with my own really. It became a chore to replace/upgrade parts, I don't even like dusting out the insides anymore. Gaming on the system is yet another chore I have begun to hate. SO my new plan is to get rid of the desktop and get with the "throw away generation" to use a laptop for general purpose stuff and a console for gaming. I already use a tablet for light duty stuff and reading.

[fusi0n]

life.