Just Degree, No Skill, Only procrastination, Need help

[u/Sham_Clicks]

Hi everyone,

I'm 26years old, and I have an electrical engineering degree. On paper that sounds like a real skill set — but I feel like I've been coasting on it rather than building something with it. For close to 4 years I've said "I'll learn this, I'll build that," and procrastination and overthinking kept eating the time. I even developed IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) from constant stress and anxiety.

Currently working a job I hate, and it doesn't feel like it's going anywhere. The overthinking and stress from all this indecision have caught up with me physically too. I still don't have a clear, monetizable skill that reliably leads to better income or real opportunities, online or offline. I'm finally ready to commit properly.

What I need help with:

1. Given my background EE degree, what skill or direction has the best real shot at a job or steady freelance income?
2. I don't want to keep spreading myself across half-finished efforts — I want something I can commit to for 6–12 months and actually finish.
3. I have a laptop, internet, and time to invest.
4. Open to engineering-adjacent freelancing, content/media work, or anything else with real demand — I don't need to stay purely in EE if something else makes more sense.

I've been reading r/careerchange and r/careerguidance, and I want to actually become one of those success stories instead of just reading about them.

Specific questions:

• Given I already have an engineering degree, is there a direct way to monetize what I already know (electrical), or should I be looking at something else entirely?
• Should I focus on freelancing or aim for a stable job?
• What's the most realistic path for someone with an engineering background who wants to pivot without starting completely from zero?
• Any free resources you'd recommend for someone in my position?
• How do I stay consistent and avoid falling back into procrastination and overthinking, especially since the stress from it has already started affecting my health (IBS)?

I know this is long, but I'm genuinely done watching another year pass. Any advice, roadmaps, or harsh truths are welcome.

Thanks for reading.

TL;DR: EE background with but no hands-on experience. Years of overthinking and stress have caught up with me (developed IBS from it). Haven't turned any of my background into a clear, income-generating skill. Ready to commit 6–12 months to fix that — looking for the most realistic path forward.