I’ve heard this before, but haven’t found it the case personally. I started work in manual jobs and messing around with computers was my evening hobby. Many years later, I now do IT as a job (partly from gaining skills from that hobby) but also have continued it as my primary thing to do when I’m not working. I was worried when I changed into this career that my hobby would become too much like work to be enjoyable, but I’ve not found that.
Is this the same for other people, or am I unusual in doing something in my off hours that’s so close to my career? I’m genuinely curious to know if others have found the same or whether they found another hobby.
I’d say no. As they say, find your passion, and if you make money using that passion, you’re good for life.
Mmm, but they also say to keep your work and personal life separate.
I reckon that applies when you’re working for a company but freelance (or own company) you may inevitably start to overlap public and private life.
Yes, it can definitely do that. You have to be extremely firm with yourself about boundary creep but even then, the temptation to check in on the business side when you’re supposed to be off is big.