There’s the rub.

Hobbies are super fun. We all know that. They’re cathartic. They’re relaxing. They realign and tune you back into yourself. All that stuff.

Scientifically, there’s all the endorphins and dopamine and blah blah blah. Yep. We got it.

But hobbies are sneaky, too. If you don’t keep up on them, give them sufficient attention, or exercise them, then they’ll leave without even saying goodbye. Poof. Gone. Peace.

When we’re young, hobbies hang out.

They’re there waiting for you patiently because they know you’ll have time for it. They hang out because you never have to “make” time for them, that time is just built into your day. Running. Yoga. Drums. Guitar. Basketball. Painting. Underwater karate. Whatever it is, there it is…just waiting for you. (Ok, I made up underwater karate but now I want to do it.)

But as life changes and new things enter your routine, it’s work to keep hobbies.

Actual, real work. What the hell, man? Hobbies are supposed to be the things we do when we aren’t working, and now they’re work? Well that just sucks.

My wife works crazy hours and works crazy hard. I’m working to build a business from scratch which is the hardest thing I’ve ever done, at least professionally.

But here’s an idea that works (somewhat) for my wife and I, and might (somewhat) work for you:

It’s ok that your hobby is primarily about you, but also making it about something – or someone – else can help give it a new, updated meaning or purpose.

For us, as parents of three boys, we tell ourselves one thing over and over in order to keep up our efforts towards our hobbies:

Our kids deserve to have interesting parents.

That’s it.

Once we realized that having hobbies didn’t have to be selfish, they instantly became easier to keep in our lives.

Now more than ever, it’s important to keep up our hobbies. Not only for us, but for our kids who are at that age where anything and everything is possible and exposure to different views, trains of thought, and ideas is crucial.

It’s hard, and we may not be great at it just yet, but it has helped all of us.

Now go restring that guitar and dust off that kit! It’s time.

Also, underwater karate. Seriously. I’m going to make that a thing.

#bewhatyoumake