Hobbies as Adult Play and the Productivity Trap
Why we turn leisure into performance obligations and how to bring playfulness back to sports.
Psychologist and psychoanalyst Laura Aliberti explores the value of hobbies as the adult equivalent of childhood play. Learn why tracking metrics can undermine genuine enjoyment and how to embrace being a beginner.
In adult life, moments dedicated to leisure often end up tainted by the same pressure and efficiency mindset found in the workplace. In a conversation on mental health and behavior, psychologist, psychoanalyst, and runner Laura Aliberti examined how sports and hobbies serve as the adult equivalent of childhood play—and why this relationship so frequently erodes under an obsession with performance.
The Concept of Play and the Ability to Be Present
Drawing on the psychoanalytic theory of Donald Winnicott, Laura explains that play is defined as a state of absolute presence. It is neither a pure escape into fantasy nor the rigid grip of practical reality. For the psychoanalyst, sports recreate this intermediate space where individuals engage with their own body, breath, and movement, while simultaneously developing the capacity to be alone with themselves.
This state demands immediate focus—whether coordinating stride and pace during a run, or diving into a brand-new experience like go-karting or rock climbing. Experiencing something new restores sensations typical of childhood, such as butterflies in the stomach, manageable fear, and unpretentious curiosity.
Permission to Be Bad and the Metric Invasion
One of the biggest modern obstacles to cultivating a hobby is the fear of not being good at it immediately. In group activities and sports, worrying about failing or underperforming has become widespread, turning what should be leisure into a source of anxiety.
According to Laura Aliberti, a healthy hobby requires the freedom to experiment and even discover that you dislike an activity. By picking up a practice without the burden of ambitious goals—like swimming purely for the joy of being in the water—we reclaim the right to be a beginner. The risk arises when every activity is measured by watches, paces, and spreadsheets, suffocating playful enjoyment under constant productivity demands.
The Essential Question: Why Are We Pushing Ourselves?
When facing lost motivation or burnout with workouts and sports routines, Laura suggests a clinical reflection: 'For whose sake am I doing this?' This question cuts through surface-level clichés to identify whether a goal stems from genuine desire or a need for external validation.
Often, the pressure to perform comes from the belief that others are constantly evaluating our results. However, the rapid pace of social media consumption shows the exact opposite: people's attention is fleeting. Recognizing this dynamic brings vital relief, helping you renew your connection with sports, slow down when needed, and participate purely for the fun of it.