On Jams

A few days ago, a coworker asked me this question:

What’s your life’s greatest jam, Julius? Outside of work.

Embarrassingly, I didn’t even catch the word at first. Apparently “jam” here meant “the stuff you’re into for fun.”

I answered confidently:

Oh, I’ve got plenty of jams. Camping, going to baseball games, making games… But why do you ask?

He said he didn’t have any jams of his own and felt like he was just working all day, so he was trying to find some.

The more I thought about it, the more it made sense.

Looking back, there was a time when I tried to fill every day with work. Even after clocking out, I’d spend my time building context for work, acquiring relevant knowledge—that sort of thing.

And yes, sometimes that’s necessary. When you join a new team or face urgent deadlines, it happens naturally.

But my life looks a little different now. I spend more time on my jams, and I know that time is both joyful and precious.

Does that mean I’ve lost my sense of responsibility or passion for work? Paradoxically, it’s the opposite. I’m still growing, and I believe I’m making greater and more meaningful contributions to my team and company than ever before.

How is that possible when I’m putting in less time?

Humans are emotional beings. Most of us get tired of repetition and feel frustrated when we hit obstacles. These feelings come up even more often when we’re working.

That’s why it’s essential to have time to release those negative emotions—and I believe the time I spend on my jams serves exactly that purpose.

Sometimes, stepping back and taking a moment to observe and reflect can be better than pushing forward with relentless focus and effort.

I’m grateful to my wife, who laughs and chats with me on our camping trips; to the Doosan Bears, who give me the energy to cheer until my voice gives out; to Gemini and Claude, who help me with game development; and to everyone else who becomes my jam or helps me enjoy them.