The last couple of years in the hobby has really taken a toll on me sometimes. The cost of cards, the lack of finding retail, cards I loved collecting in the 90's going for outrageous prices, everyone money hungry, Fanatics owning everything (not sure on how they will do in the hobby yet but it worries me), Hobby Dementors sucking life from collectors (like the creatures in Harry Potter) and trading becoming more of a thing of the past has really gotten me down some days about collecting.
It's gotten to the point that sometimes I wonder why I am even collecting still as I have experienced hobby burnout multiple times..
*takes a sip, wonders if should scramble some eggs for breakfast to go with today's post*
I like adding cards like this because I wasn't ever really a big history person until I got older and wiser. The problem is now that I am older and wiser, the history we were once taught is changing before our eyes and trying to be erased. I still want to learn what I never paid attention to in school so adding cards with history is a must for me.
But then...
a card with a picture of an egg reminds me of why I am still in it.
I can find my own fun deep within the hobby still. Such as an Egg card from a small pwe trade.
*takes a sip, wonders if should scramble some eggs for breakfast to go with today's post*
My latest trade with Dions Autograph Blog was just a nice reminder of why I am still hanging on.
I thought these Stadium Scenes inserts were a great idea by Topps to integrate collectors into the hobby. I wished they would do this again.
A Piece Of History was another fun Upper Deck product that was underrated. Probably because it was a mix of baseball and non-sport. It seems a lot of collectors don't take to those ones. Hence, Allen Ginter.
And the final card in this trade was this Post Malone "rookie" card. Yes, I already acquired one earlier this year, but I don't mind having another.
Thanks again to Dion for our latest trade.
*takes a sip before finishing up today's post*
I know hobby burnout will come back and hopefully I can push through it again. I know I am also not alone with this burnout as I have seen others even quit the hobby since it became so overwhelming. It's sad to, this hobby is supposed to be a hobby. Hobbies are supposed to be fun. I am just hoping we go back to pre-2020 days sometime. Heck, would be better to go back to Pre-2000s times.
In comments today, let me know if you have experienced any form of hobby burnout and what you have done to keep yourself moving forward.
Hope everyone has a great weekend!
*Coffee Card Blogger Out*
I'm with you. Over the past year I've taken long breaks from the hobby for the same reasons you point out. It's helped me to maintain a focus on the reason for collecting. I've learned to sift through my Want List to remove players that really have never interested me. But by the same token I've rediscovered the joy of collecting interesting sets regardless of my affinity for the sport - which at the moment because of wokeness my interest in watching any sport has waned. Thus, I look to collecting to fill that gap that once occupied my time each season.
ReplyDeleteI am diving back into set collecting focus myself. It seems to be the better route since many of the flipper collectors aren't doing it. Some cards are very expensive for some of the sets I want to build, but I will try to find a way to trade for those.
DeleteI often get hobby burnout but trudge on. I think mostly because I have been collecting since I can remember, having 2 older brothers helped with that I was probably still in diapers when I first held a trading card. My earliest card memory is trading with my brother at around age 5 or 6.
ReplyDeleteI think we all trudge on and find a way to do so. Sometimes are easier than others.
DeleteI'm really fortunate. This is my 35 YO son's hobby, and he got into it at age 8, and I got into it as a way to bond with him. We would go to the LCS every Saturday. Talk cards and sports, and since he stayed with the hobby, I've stayed with the hobby for 27 years now. As long as he continues to collect, and BST, I'll continue as well. Although for him, it's a side hustle, for me, strictly fun. The LCS is no more, and that has lessened the joy, and the son moved out long ago, but there is always e-bay, TDCb and interesting bloggers. And the phone to talk to the prodigal one.
ReplyDeletePS that comment was by "Abide" from TCDb
DeleteI know how that is with no LCS. We don't have one here either or any card shows, etc. Just a Walmart and the occasional ebay pickup.
DeleteHowever, there is luckily always trading going on.
There are elements of the hobby that are frustrating right now, but hobby burnout is not anything that happens to me. I'll always find something to do in the hobby and my collecting happiness is not dependent on always finding new stuff.
ReplyDeleteMine isn't always on newer stuff, though newer stuff is sometimes nice. Been finding myself in the 90s more the last two weeks and going back to set building such as you have been posting about
DeleteNo burnout yet, I’ve actually in the last year or two gotta more excited about cards. I’ve learned I get a really good feeling giving away cards that I either have multiples of or just don’t pc them. The cost of a stamp is a small price to know I’m helping out another collector.
ReplyDeleteSorry this came up as anonymous, it’s me Norm Carlisle
DeleteAnd I have been fortunate on my end to get some of those mail days. Thank you!
DeleteI've experience blogger burnout every so often... but not really with the hobby. Sure things have changed over the past two years and I've cut back on buying new cards & sets, but I still enjoy collecting. Plus the cutbacks have allowed me to go back and appreciate the cards that have been hiding in boxes all of these years.
ReplyDeleteAs for Post Malone... I was pretty impressed by his performances on Howard Stern a few weeks ago.
Yes, blogger burnout is real. It's why I am just down to this blog now. I can't handle doing more than one as it is, I can barely handle this one some days.
Delete