
Not long ago, the norm for most adults used to be
To have a full-time job to pay bills, and a hobby
That was intended for relaxation, on which time would be spent
As and when available, but to a limited extent
*
But this is the era of the gig economy
These days you have a side gig, not just a hobby
That you can on social media publicize
And if you are diligent about it, it can be monetized
So many people have been able to turn
Their erstwhile hobbies into sources of income
You do what you love, and film it simultaneously
To generate content for the world to see
Getting paid for it seems just an icing on the cake
You are thrilled by the money you can make..
*
Except- the side gig that was supposed to be
An upgraded version of a relaxing hobby
Now turns into an unhealthy preoccupation
With gaining followers and content creation
You try to create new stuff to keep engagement high
But your new content is from your old hobby a far cry
Maybe your 9 to 5 job you have quit by now
To free up more time, in order to allow
You to focus all your energy on your online presence
And now the pressure to generate content is intense..
*
Eventually you decide the influencer life is not for you
Pay your bills with a job and relax with a hobby is what you should do…

This is interesting because I think more and more people are finally realizing that all those ‘perfect’ photos and lifestyles are not real. Some ‘influencers’ that I used to follow are now divorced, stopped posting for various reasons and worse. When what is supposed to be fun turns into work…I am outta there. “Intense’ was the perfect word that you used. Our little blogging world here…this is fun and only as much work as you want to make it. I liked working under pressure at my job, but in my retirement–no thanks.
LikeLike
I think I really needed to hear this… this blog is a perfect outlet because it is a hobby…and that is why I can write about anything I feel like. I’ve seen the quality of writing deteriorate when some people acquire fame as “instapoets”. There are no free lunches, so monetizing one’s craft means selling it to various brands..
LikeLiked by 1 person