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Feeling lost and with no direction, what skill should I learn? (self.asklemmy)

submitted 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) by Shocker_Khan to c/[email protected]

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Hi everyone. I am feeling like I've lost any direction after getting laid off earlier this year (was working as an analyst in telecom and very recently landed a much lower position in healthcare data entry due to necessity). I already have several hobbies but I am either burnt out on them or they have lost their luster (similar to how life has lost its luster for me this past 6 months).

I would really love to learn a new skill, preferably using my hands to create something while challenging my brain. I'm willing to take classes, study, practice, and buy some equipment required for the skill.

Please tell me about your skill/hobby that gives you purpose. I've kind of exhausted google search which always returns the same 20 or so craft suggestions like "make custom invitations for weddings", and while that sounds good for someone, it may not be good for me.

Current hobbies: Music composition and gardening,

EDIT: trying to move away from hobbies that involve me sitting in front of a computer. I already do that way too much.

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[–] [email protected] 29 points 6 months ago (2 children)

Based on what you wrote, referencing burnout, I suspect that the issue isn't that you need a hobby, it's that you need to make time to do nothing at all.

Go for walks in nature, away from technology, walk alone or with friends, laugh, tell stories, share secrets and dreams.

The more you do, the more resilience builds up, the better you can cope with stress and work.

Only then might you find joy in a hobby. For me it was Amateur Radio, but it might be different for you.

[–] Shocker_Khan 8 points 6 months ago

All good points. I make time with friends when I can, getting laid off from my job really messed me up. I had been there for 11 years a lot of my closer friends are tied to that job and people I worked with. I still go out to lunch or for coffee with them when possible, but I don't see them every day like I used to. I am going to double my efforts to spend time with them.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 months ago (1 children)

i got my amateur radio license (U.S. technician) about a month ago at a big convention. i was thinking of suggesting the hobby to the poster but first read through the comments, to check if it were suggested already. your initial advice is probably better. i'm realizing i overloaded myself and burned out during the time leading up to the test and now i'm not entirely sure why i tried getting the license in the first place. i still don't even have a radio. I think i wanted to learn more about electronics and one thing led to another. now my mind goes blank when i try to think about what to do. i'm not OP but found it to be good advice, thanks.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

Welcome to the community, we're all still figuring out what to do with it :)

When you want to reconnect with the hobby, after looking after yourself, look for my callsign, VK6FLAB. I have produced a weekly article about the hobby for the past 13 years and there's plenty of suggestions for things to do and learn.