Hobbies vs. Side Hustles: Why Your Desire for More Is a Sign of Something Bigger

So here we are at the beginning of 2026, and you know what that means - everyone and their mother is posting their "In & Out Lists" for the year.

I was listening to a podcast in early January, and as many content creators do at the beginning of the year, they were sharing their in and out list. And look, it's all fun and games. These lists aren't meant to be followed like some kind of gospel truth that we all need to adhere to.

But here's the thing - some of these lists can really play on our insecurities and that very human desire to fit in. And unfortunately, a lot of people DO listen and think they should avoid wearing this, listening to that, or stop drinking matcha because someone on the internet said it's uncool in 2026. I've heard it all from so many people online. Like, taking a picture of your matcha is SO out in 2026. Apparently. And to that I say: you do you, and stop listening to people on the internet who are trying to dictate what you should enjoy.

As I mentioned in episode 1, I'm all about sovereignty over conformity. So take 500 pictures of your matcha if that makes you happy, especially if it's a gorgeous one or really tasty. Who cares what some list says?

Actually, you know what? Let me give you MY in and out list for 2026:

In: Sovereignty
Out: Conformity

LOL.

And before anyone misunderstands what I mean by sovereignty - this does NOT mean you can't like something just because it's trendy or mainstream or whatever. Sovereignty means YOU choose what you like regardless of something being indie versus mainstream. It's about authentic choice, not contrarian rebellion just for the sake of it.

The Side Hustle Debate

So like I said, in January I was listening to this podcast where a couple of influencers were sharing their In & Out List for 2026, and one thing that they declared was officially out? Side hustles.

Basically, they were saying that so many people are starting new hobbies with the objective of turning them into side hustles. And they wanted people to just take up a hobby as something to enjoy, to do for themselves. No monetization. No hustle. Just... fun.

Now, I 100% agree with that sentiment. I believe everyone should definitely have some type of hobby in their lives - something that they enjoy outside of work. Regardless of whether you're employed or have your own business, everyone needs something to do just FOR FUN.

There was a time in my life - actually, a LONG time in my life, like the majority of my corporate career - where I did not have this. I was so consumed with my work, my career, and I over-identified so much with my job that I convinced myself I didn't have time to have a hobby. Because what if I had to stay late during the week? Or work on weekends? I could not have a hobby interfering with me overworking, darn it! 😅

And honestly, even over the past four years of having my own business, it's been hard to find TIME for a hobby. Not only because I'm a mother to a little one - and that alone is a full-time job - but also, as someone who's self-employed, it's all on me. I only have myself to rely on. No one to delegate to.

But regardless of your employment situation, we all need something to take our mind off of work sometimes. It creates a better work-life balance when you're not totally consumed by what you do. So yeah, I get it. Hobbies are important.

But Here's What Really Got Me Fired Up

But that's not why I got all fired up when I was listening to this podcast. Like I said, I think we all need to have some type of hobby or something outside of work that we enjoy. That's not what bothered me.

What I really want to talk about today is that the desire for side hustles is a symptom of something much, much bigger. It's a desire to break free. I am not surprised that people are looking at hobbies as an escape. As a way to exit the rat race.

This is all part of the bigger collective shift that we are seeing and HAVE been seeing over the past few years since the pandemic. People are questioning what they actually want out of life and work, instead of blindly following some laid-out plan that society created for us.

Think about it. We're living through massive transformation. In the previous episode, I talked about Pluto in Aquarius, the Human Design shift in 2027, Saturn and Neptune in Aries - all of these cosmic energies pointing to the same thing: old structures crumbling, institutions losing trust, people demanding more autonomy.

We're seeing the "Great Resignation" morph into the "Great Reevaluation." People aren't just quitting jobs anymore, they're questioning the entire premise of traditional employment. They're asking themselves: "Is this really what I want to do for the next 30 years? Is this job worth sacrificing my time, my energy, my life force?"

And when the answer is "no" or even "I'm not sure," people start looking for alternatives. They start thinking: "What if I could turn this thing I actually enjoy into income? What if I didn't have to choose between financial security and doing something I love?"

That's not greed. That's not hustle culture run amok. That's your soul saying "there has to be another way."

So when people dismiss side hustles as some kind of toxic trend that needs to go away, I think they're missing the point entirely. The desire to monetize a hobby isn't the problem, the problem is a work culture that's so soul-crushing that people are desperate for ANY alternative.

The problem is an economic system where one job isn't enough for many people to survive, let alone thrive.

The problem is a world that told us there was only ONE right path - get a degree, get a stable job, work your way up the ladder, retire at 65 - and that path is dissolving right in front of us.

People wanting to turn hobbies into income isn't the disease. It's a symptom. It's people trying to heal themselves by finding work that actually feels meaningful.

So If You're One of Those People...

If you're one of those people who are longing for a new hobby and actually hoping you could potentially monetize that in the future? I salute you. It means you crave something different. It means you want to break free from whatever mold you feel stuck in. And I'm not going to tell you that's wrong or that you should just be content with your hobby staying a hobby.

But let's break this down, because I think we can divide people into different categories when it comes to this whole hobby-versus-side-hustle conversation.

Category One: People With Existing Hobbies or Talents

First up, the people with existing hobbies. Perhaps you do have a hobby or a passion, something that you're actually talented in. I've seen so many of these people. I've met them. I've worked with them. I've had colleagues who dared to take the leap and set up a business around their hobbies, and I've seen others letting their hobbies be just that - hobbies.

Some people actually don't want to monetize their hobbies, and that's completely valid. But I've also met plenty of people who are afraid to. They'd rather play it safe and stay in the comfort of traditional employment. And look, I'm not here to judge that choice. But I will say this: letting fear set the tone of your entire career is never a long-term solution. Fear is a terrible life coach.

Let me give you some examples from my own life.

I've had colleagues who were great writers become published authors. People who came into the office with deliciously tasty baked goods opened bakeries. Someone with a passion for interior design became a sought-after home decorator. A former colleague who was a foodie became a famous food blogger.

They wanted something else. They discovered that their "safe" job was actually not for them, but their passion was.

And here's the question I want to ask: Why do we tell ourselves that turning a passion into a business is just not possible for us? It's possible for others, but not for us.

Fear. That's why.

We're afraid we're not good enough. We're afraid we'll fail. We're afraid of what people will think. We're afraid of losing the security of a paycheck. We're afraid of the unknown.

And those are all valid fears. I'm not dismissing them. But the question becomes: are you going to let those fears run your life? Or are you going to acknowledge them and move forward anyway?

Now, I want to be clear about something important. For most of the people I've met and that I work with, it's the not rushing that has been key.

For most people, quitting your job without a plan usually isn't the way to go. Your nervous system needs to feel supported when making a major change. You can't just burn everything down and hope for the best. That's a recipe for panic and usually a quick return to traditional employment, except now you're more scared than before.

But here's what you can do: start taking small steps. Start increasing your visibility. Start treating your hobby like a business on the side while you still have that paycheck supporting you. It didn't happen overnight for any of the people I mentioned. Most of them started these passions as side hustles, grew their businesses, built their confidence and their client base, and then transitioned to full-time entrepreneurship.

The key here is that they STARTED. They took the step. They supported their nervous system before they jumped.

Should we have told them not to create a business around their hobbies? Should we have told them to keep their hobbies pure and untainted by money? To stay in jobs that weren't fulfilling them because at least hobbies were supposed to be "just for fun"? I don't think so.

Category Two: People Without a Clear Passion (Yet)

Then we have the people without a clear passion or hobby right now, but who wish they did because they want to start a side hustle, to explore future possibilities.

This used to be me. I didn't think I had any hobbies or interests because I had been so focused on my career that I didn't really have time for anything else. I had completely lost touch with what I enjoyed outside of work.

And I've actually talked about this in the past, but I used to dread going to interviews and being asked if I had any hobbies. Out of all the questions we get subjected to during job interviews - questions about competence, experience, handling difficult situations - I didn't fear any question about the actual job. I feared being asked what my hobbies were. Because I didn't have a good answer. And I felt like that made me... less interesting? Less well-rounded? Like I was failing at being a complete human being?

But anyway. Perhaps this is you too. Perhaps you wish you had a clear talent or interest in something that you could turn into a side hustle, but you're drawing a blank. You feel like you don't have any special skills or passions, and everyone else seems to have figured this out except you.

So to you I want to say: you DO have passions. Probably multiple ones. But perhaps you need help uncovering your specific patterns.This is exactly why I created The Passion Pattern Framework. If you're looking for a passion or hobby to turn into income but you have no idea where to start, this free resource is a great place to begin. It helps you dig into yourself, your repeating patterns, your experiences and desires. It's about figuring out what you're all about and what you stand for.

Because here's the thing: most people aren't looking for ONE true passion or calling. That's a myth that's caused so much unnecessary anxiety. Instead, what I've found is that people have PATTERNS - themes that show up across different interests and experiences throughout their lives.

Maybe you don't have one specific hobby, but you've always been the person people come to for advice. Or you're always organizing things, creating systems, helping people solve problems. Maybe you're drawn to transformation stories, or you love teaching people new things, or you're endlessly curious about human behavior.

These patterns ARE your passion. You just need to learn how to recognize them and then figure out how to build something around them.

The Passion Pattern Framework walks you through this process. It's not about finding THE thing. It's about uncovering YOUR things and seeing how they connect. You can grab it for free on my website.

There's Nothing Wrong With You

So here's what I want you to hear today: There is nothing wrong with you if you desire a side hustle. There is no shame in that at all. Forget about people saying side hustles are out and hobbies - and ONLY hobbies - are in.

If you're feeling that pull toward turning something you enjoy into income, if you're daydreaming about a different kind of work life, if you're researching how to start a business while you're supposed to be working on that spreadsheet...Take this as a sign that you desire more. That you're ready to get out of the rat race. That your soul is yearning for something different.

And your soul isn't wrong. It's not being greedy or unrealistic or naive. It's trying to guide you toward alignment, toward work that actually feels meaningful, toward a life where you don't have to completely separate who you are from what you do to earn money.

We're living in a time where the old rules are breaking down. Where the path that was supposed to guarantee security isn't guaranteeing anything anymore. Where institutions are failing people left and right. In that environment, wanting to create your own path isn't selfish or frivolous. It's survival. It's adaptation. It's evolution.

So if you have a hobby you love, and you're wondering if you could turn it into something more - explore that. Start small. Test it out. See what happens. Your hobby doesn't have to stay pure and untouched by commerce if you don't want it to.

And if you don't have a clear hobby yet but you're feeling this restlessness, this sense that there has to be something else out there for you, then that’s valid too. Start exploring. Start paying attention to what lights you up, even in small ways. Use tools like The Passion Pattern Framework to help you uncover what's been there all along.

The desire for a side hustle, for a different way of working, for more sovereignty over your time and energy - that's not a trend that needs to go away. That's your soul waking up. And I, for one, think that's something worth listening to.

Next Steps

If you want to grab The Passion Pattern Framework I mentioned, head to my website. It's completely free and it's a great place to start if you're trying to figure out what you're passionate about or how to turn your interests into something viable.

I also have my Sovereignty Challenge - five days of practical exercises to help you start reclaiming your power and making decisions based on what YOU actually want, not what you think you should want. That's also free.

And if you're ready for personalized guidance on turning your passion into a plan, I offer one-on-one intensive sessions where we map out your unique design and create a roadmap for your sovereignty journey. Whether that means starting a side hustle, transitioning to full-time entrepreneurship, or just figuring out what actually lights you up, I'm here to help you navigate that.

The world is changing. The old structures are crumbling. And yes, that's scary. But it's also the most incredible opportunity to build something new. Something that actually fits who you are. Don't let anyone tell you that wanting more is wrong.