I’m a burned out academic leaving the field. I’d like to learn something new as a means of recovery and healing from the trauma (edit: narcissm, lack of human connection, intense funding cuts resulting in competition, less focus on students in recent years and instead on metrics). So, what should I learn (edit: that might help recovery from the aforementioned) What do you recommend and where could I start? I’m not looking for career advice, just crowdsourcing new things to learn and experience.
That’s it. That’s my ask.
Edit: Added some context.
Learn how to ride a bike with no hands. Obviously, only do this is you have access to a relatively flat and safe path to practice.
Practice until you can go a mile or kilometer or whatever is your standard unit of measure for a decently long distance.
Your trauma’s listed all appear to be focused on others (except the narcisissm one but I’m assuming that’s about other people with it) and disappointment in them, or a lack of connection with them, or they are difficult or weary-ing. It is disconnecting you from yourself.
This might help you release your thoughts of the outside world, of analytical thinking, of everything. It requires focus on the physical body and absence of all other thought. Regain lost balance.
I am not a doctor or professional anything. Also I broke my elbow doing this. I don’t regret it. Your milage (or kilometerage?) may vary.
I can ride a bike with no hands! Great success! I spent the last 3 months trying and can navigate speed bumps, pot holes, and small curves now without hands. I have not, yet, broken anything but there’s still time ;-)
The narcissism is in others, yes, in this field.