Before Breakfast Is it a hobby or a necessity?
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Mar 9, 2026 A look at how everyday activities can be hobbies or necessities. Concrete examples contrast quick routines with long, hobby-like versions of cooking, tidying, and dressing. The line between extra work and leisure when working after hours is explored. Practical swaps for saving time and a historical view of housework round out the conversation.
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Recognize When Necessities Become Hobbies
- Not all routine tasks require maximal effort; some activities people treat as necessities are actually hobbies in disguise.
- Laura Vanderkam contrasts 20-minute versus 60-minute dinners and weekend deep-cleaning to show how standards vary and inflate time use.
Two Families, Very Different Dinner Times
- Laura illustrates varied time use with two families: one takes 20 minutes to cook dinner, another takes an hour, yet both feed their households adequately.
- She uses this example to show that extra time often reflects preference, not necessity.
Use A Real Hobby To Enforce Work Boundaries
- Set explicit boundaries so work doesn't become a hobby that consumes evenings and nights.
- Laura suggests taking a real hobby like guitar lessons one night a week as a reason to leave work on time.