Giang Pham, a social media manager from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, has a passion for handmade art that brings color to her life. While she works in a different field, she finds joy in creating wallets, drawings, and keychains for her friends. However, Pham believes in keeping her passion and career separate. She believes that if she were to sell her art, the business responsibilities would take away the joy and creativity that fuel her passion. Separating work from art allows her to express herself freely without judgement or pressure. Pham values the balance between her career and her hobbies, as her passions provide a safe space for her.
It hasn’t always been this way for Pham. Like many young people, she felt the pressure to follow her dreams and find success. However, she realized that not every hobby can easily be turned into a livelihood. Instead, she chose to pursue client content creation for her career while exploring her passion for art outside of work. This approach allows her to find fulfillment in both aspects of her life.
In a post-pandemic world where job instability and work-from-home isolation have become more prevalent, reevaluating our approach to work is crucial for personal fulfillment. According to Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace Poll, 60% of respondents reported feeling emotionally detached from work. Research suggests that pursuing hobbies unrelated to work can increase productivity and overall well-being. Having diverse aspects in our lives, such as home, community, hobbies, and work, can provide a sense of identity and balance.
However, as work becomes a larger part of our identities, it can also consume our lives. Lauren Howe, an assistant professor of Management at the University of Zurich, warns about the dangers of becoming too invested in one’s career, leading to burnout and exhaustion. Erin Cech, the author of “The Trouble With Passion,” emphasizes the difference between being happy at your job and being passionate about it. One can still love their job without being passionate about the tasks they perform. Howe suggests viewing a career as a way to fund and unlock passions outside of work.
Determining whether to separate passion from work requires introspection. Cech proposes four questions to consider: Are you willing to pursue a line of work even if it means lower pay or delayed employment? Are you willing to be underpaid for the work you love? Are you willing to bear the financial and existential burden of making your passion a core part of your identity? Are you willing to accept the possibility that your passion may not always be there for you?
If you decide that separating passion from work is the right choice for you, it’s important to create healthy habits that allow you to explore your passions outside of work. Find other anchors of identity and communities to be a part of. Make time in your schedule for activities unrelated to work. Disconnect from work to be fully present in what you’re doing. This balance helps to relieve work stress and build a fulfilling life that is not solely reliant on career success.
For Giang Pham, finding this balance is key to cherishing both her work and her passions. She believes that if monetizing her hobby becomes too stressful, she would rather keep it as a safe space for herself and continue living her life gratefully.
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