Why I Love Useless Projects
I think the human brain is wired to make things.
Some of the things we make solve problems, but we also have all sorts of arts and crafts that are just there to be pretty. There is value in art, of course. It is an exploration of the human experience. It helps us make sense of the world and share our stories.
But we also make a lot of things that we never share with a meaningful number of people. Things that don't have any deeper meaning attached to them. We make little drawings or crochet scarves. We knit and sew, 3d print and laser-cut, form clay into little figurines or "just splash some colour onto something". We tend our balcony gardens or learn cross-stitch. We make sausages and cheese or try our hand at brewing our own ale.
We explore physical materials and on the way, we make things.
I don't know a single happy person who does not also have some sort of "maker hobby". Even my son, who at the moment is mostly interested in playing video games, exclaims "I need to go play some Minecraft and do something creative". As I write this, he is building the umpteenth space station.
Making things gives me a little rush of pleasure. Every time, I feel like it is a tiny miracle when something comes out pretty.
Pretty, and also pretty useless.
There is no productivity reason for making things yourself. Anything you can make, you can probably buy at a reasonable price. If you calculated the monetary value of the time you spend building something versus the "value" you produce, it would almost always be a losing proposition. What's more, you're way too busy already. So better leave the making to the professionals.
Even before you started working, though, someone probably told you that making things was a waste of time. Perhaps a teacher admonished you to "stop wasting time doodling and study for the maths test". Maybe your parents insisted that, if you need a hobby, it should at least be a useful one.
Think back to when you were little.
Has anyone ever encouraged you to make something just for fun? I don't know about you, but in my childhood hobbies were mostly linked to either "performing" (piano skills to show off) or "making a gift for a loved one" (my grandmother has a whole closet full of those).
This only got worse as I got older. There seems to be very little space for "useless" activities once we grow up, have a career, and add some kids to the mix. Add to this the endless prayer mill of productivity culture and you have a life that has no room for making things "just because".
No wonder we feel exhausted.
So, do yourself a favour. One of these days, make something just for fun. Colour a page in a colouring book (they even have some with zombies), draw a mandala, crochet a cover for the toilet roll, bake a cake, fold a paper crane. Anything. As long as it is not wildly useful.
I am sure you'll be pleased.
