What I do when
I'm not working.

From a very young age, creating art has been a core part of who I am. Even as a child, when I was only seven years old, my interest in making things in the digital world began. This love for art started with simple ways of putting my thoughts onto paper, then quickly moved into the digital space.

I remember spending countless hours in late 2019, diving deep into graphic design. This wasn't just a casual interest; I spent day and night improving my work, not thinking about the time. It was a true passion. To get some early experience, I started making shirt designs for the website theWareHouse.pk, creating over 30 unique designs that were even promoted through their ads. This was a fun way to see my creative work out there, even before I was getting paid much for it.

Then, in 2020, I explored 3D modeling. I gave my whole year to learning 3D artwork, and I became good at it, adding another dimension to my creative skills. Whether it's designing visuals that connect, making logos, social media posts, or ad creatives, or even putting together print designs like brochures and flyers, my creative skills are a big part of my hobbies and personal enjoyment. This consistent effort in art and design has taught me discipline and the joy of seeing an idea come to life.

My interest in visuals also led me to photography. I enjoy taking pictures and capturing moments, which is a quiet way to see the world around me. This naturally flowed into a deep hobby of video creation and filmmaking. My YouTube channel, "Usman Jatoi" (originally "UJTutorial," later "Usman Art"), became a place for this.

A notable project in this area was the "Khanpur Katora Documentary." This film was a big personal project, taking over 1.5 months to script, record, and edit with my brother. It was a huge effort, involving telling a story from where I come from. We then went on to make two more videos. These experiences taught me about storytelling, the technical details of video editing, and the patience needed to bring a long-form idea to completion.

This was all driven by personal interest and a desire to tell stories, even before it became something I was recognized for professionally in my city in 2022. The ability to turn art and designs into motion through video editing became a central part of my creative hobbies.

For me, learning new skills is not just a job requirement; it's a core hobby and a way of life. I have always been driven by curiosity. As a kid, I tried learning everything: coding, game building, and app creation. But after a few months, I realized I didn't want to choose pure coding for my entire career. I then tried front-end website development, which includes design but also uses coding. Again, I decided to move on from just coding for my whole life.

This was a valuable lesson: it's okay to try something and then decide it's not the right fit. It taught me about self-awareness and the importance of finding what truly excites me.

I keep trying new skills without fear of changing direction. This consistent push to learn new things is a hobby in itself. It means I am always keeping up-to-date with different digital skills, whether it's understanding new platforms or exploring new ways of doing things. This constant learning feeds my mind and keeps me ready for any new challenge, personally or professionally.

While much of my life involves screens, I also find joy in exploring the real world. My personal experiences, like a trip to Bhawalpur, show my interest in traveling and seeing new places. These experiences, though not directly tied to digital tools, help broaden my perspective and offer fresh ideas.

It's about taking time away from the computer to experience different environments and cultures. Such explorations help clear my mind and give me new ways to think about creative and problem-solving tasks when I return to my digital work.

Like many young people, I explored gaming as a hobby. I even started a second YouTube channel, "UJGamer418," because my friends encouraged me to play with them and upload gaming videos. At first, it was fun, and my friends praised my content.

But, as often happens, gaming too much can become boring. I realized that it wasn't holding my long-term interest in the way my other creative pursuits did. So, I decided to move on from the gaming channel.

This experience was a good lesson in personal discernment: knowing when a hobby is serving its purpose for fun and when it's time to shift focus to things that truly feed your deeper passions and goals. It shows a practical approach to my own time and energy.

All these hobbies, from deep creative work to trying and leaving different paths, play a big role in my professional life. The discipline I learned from daily graphic design and 3D modeling directly helps my work ethic. The storytelling and detailed planning from filmmaking carry over into how I approach professional projects.

The willingness to try new skills, even if I decide they aren't for me, means I am not afraid to experiment or adapt to new technologies in my professional work.

These hobbies are not just distractions; they are the fuel for my professional growth, keeping my mind open, my skills sharp, and my approach to problem-solving fresh and practical. They are where I practice perseverance and critical thinking — skills that are essential in any digital field.