If you are going to spend time on a hobby why not pick a hobby that also benefits your career? Win win?
I struggle with that, partly because computer science was my hobby. Then I went to university studying it, and enjoying it as a hobby. Then I started working, still enjoying it as a hobby.
And if I have 10 interesting topics I want to explore on my free time. Why not pick one that will also benefit my work?
After all, I don't have as much time for my hobbies nowadays. So picking one that also benefits and influences my work is more fun and meaningful and also allows me to be paid doing something I would have done for free anyway.
This article highlights the problem with that approach.
Feels like it is very common in our industry. A very high percentage of "Show HN" fits dangerously close to that. Which is not necessarily a bad thing, it is just exposing yourself to the risks mentioned in the post.
Why not work on something that might have value in your free time?
Worst case scenario it’s just a hobby. Best case scenario it’s a hobby someone will pay you to do.
At the end of the article the author says 'This is why telling burned-out people to "find work-life balance" or "pursue hobbies" often fails.' But this is literally a hobby. Something you put effort into without needing to justify why, just because you enjoy it, is a hobby.
It's cool but the author makes it out to be way more profound than it is (ironically, justifying it with a narrative to turn out as content.)