r/Advice•
kenwhaisling

What should I do with my life?

Is there such thing as a quarter life crisis? Because Im at a cross roads at the age of 35.

Me: 35, Aussie. Ive been working in the office since 2000 - straight out of school. Mostly in online publishing/print publishing and graphic design. I started a side gig in 2010 doing photography and that was going well. Ive learnt a lot and got a few quals in this stuff during my 16 odd years.

My passion has been photography for the last 6 years or so and its basically how Ive identified myself. But this last year or two, with everyone now able to use cameras/learn quickly and easily, that income has dropped off completely. Its killed my motivation and most of my enthusiasm. I went from weekly bookings to 1 or 2 a month and regular clients started buying their own cameras to save money (I dont blame them tbh). IMO the majority of people no longer recognise a decent photo these days and any photo will do - anyway thats a whole other issue.

On top of that, my well paying office work is going well, but after 16yrs of 8-10hrs a day on computers, my hands/arms and wrists are giving up with RSI.

So Im at a point in life where I guess I need to turn a page and start something else.

Now other things I do; I breed fish (african cichlids). Into cars. Can paint and enjoy making/selling things. I love future tech as well. I was a big gamer before my hands started giving up. Also dabbled in designing t-shirts and used to produce calendars for Harley Davidson.

So I've basically spent the last few months trying to think of what I can do using some existing skills to move into something thats future proof and not 100% sitting at a keyboard, and hoping someone on Reddit has had a similar experience in life or some (sustainable) suggestions.

My ideal would have been a half/half office job + photography/design or something that gets me away from a desk and computer - which I managed for a few years before photography became so mainstream.

TIA

Posted Jan 5, 2017, 11:00 PM UTC

12
Loading comments…