[thirteenfingers]

Who said it had to be writing code? If finding joy in work is unrealistic, then take up a musical instrument, build a model railroad, write short stories, or something totally unrelated. (I've been a full-time code monkey by day and musician by night for going on six years, and I'm still finding other hobbies to dabble in.)

[bobthepanda]

"Work on" might be bad verbiage then, particularly if we are talking about people who the term "work" might just make anxious.

"Find a hobby" would be a better phrasing.