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.

  • @some_guy
    4•18 days ago

    One of the former guitarists of thrash metal band Anthrax became a watch repairman. I think maybe he work(s/ed) on antique watches, but I might be making that part up. If you like working with your hands and challenging your mind, this could be great. I listened to a podcast miniseries about a guy who, among other things, repaired clocks. There was a lot of commentary about how reverse-engineering the original design was a big part of the job. (The show was S-Town / Shit-Town).

      • walden
        1•18 days ago

        My father is a clock repair guy. He’s been doing it since he was a child and switched to doing it full time during the 2008 recession.

        He lives an interesting life! It’s a very solo/work for yourself type of activity. He outsources some stuff to experts, like restoring dials, making new wooden gears, etc. Every clock he fixes gets run on a test stand for a month before going back to the customer.