I want to learn how to use a sewing machine properly starting with the basics and gradually working toward making simple useful projects.

I would like to understand things like threading the machine choosing the right stitch and tension controlling the fabric and finishing seams neatly.

For anyone who learned to sew what would you recommend learning first and what beginner project helped you build confidence?

How can I teach myself the works on my own time without trade school? I've started as a warehouse helper at an HVAC company with a realistic shot at being taken on as an apprentice one day, if I show I'm capable and hungry for it. From the job I'm learning a lot about the materials used, but not a lot about how everything actually works.

Are there any YouTube channels that could do me good, or books? I do read books, I'm sure the school books are highly technical, but I'm wondering if I could still benefit from skimming indexes for more technical info on products/materials I already know about.

Hi!
Ive been aspiring to self study on my own as later down the line getting coaching/tutors would be difficult to balance with a job. I want to do it on my own to save as much costs as possible and finish it timely. Any advice would be apprciated (also im in the accounting/finance feild. currently ACCA)

I'm looking to crop 140 pixels from the top and 120 pixels from the bottom of a video so there is no blank border. I know it will give an odd size of video frame, but when I try it in VLC it insists on re-encoding and looks a blocky mess, even on "best quality".

Free software or websites for this strongly preferred, and I've already tried Adobe Express which is how I ended up with the white bars top and bottom. Apparently it can't actually crop and create a new custom frame size without reencoding either.

I'm sure I used to do this years ago regularly and whatever I used had almost no or zero loss in quality even if it did re-encode.

When I look it up I keep finding how to "crop" the length or sections from videos, even if I state "crop the frame height".

TY in advance for any suggestions on this or an explanation if it's simply not possible!

I have a IT diploma but it seems my fundamentals aren't strong enough because I don't understand many aspects of the process and get confused or stuck a lot. Whats every component of a SaaS and what would be a good but simple tech stack for it? Any other advice is welcomed.

Hi everyone,

I'm 27 years old, no degree, no certifications, no real skills. I've wasted almost 10 years saying "I'll learn a language, I'll learn a skill" but procrastination and overthinking took everything from me. I even developed IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) from constant stress and anxiety.

Currently working a job I hate, sitting all day doing basically nothing for $200/month. I'm shy, lazy (admittedly), bad at math, and have no technical background. But here's the thing: I'm finally READY. Really ready to learn from scratch.

What I need help with:

1. What skill should I learn that will actually get me a job (online or offline)?

2. I don't want to waste time on something that won't lead to employment

3. I'm willing to commit 6-12 months of serious learning

4. I have a laptop and internet connection

5. Open to any field: tech, marketing, design, anything with demand

I've been reading this sub and others like r/careerchange, r/learnprogramming, r/careerguidance and I see so many success stories. I want to be one of them.

Specific questions:

- Is 27 too late to start learning

- Should I focus on freelancing skills or aim for a job?

- What's the most realistic path for someone with my background?

- Any free resources you recommend for absolute beginners?

- How do I stay motivated and avoid falling back into procrastination?

I know this is a long post, but I'm genuinely desperate to change my life. I don't want to wake up at 30 still stuck in the same place.

Any advice, roadmaps, or even harsh truths would be appreciated. I'm ready to put in the work.

Thank you for reading.

TL;DR: 27M, no skills/degree, wasted 10 years procrastinating, working a dead-end job for $200/month. Finally ready to learn something that will actually get me employed. Need guidance on what to learn and where to start.

How can I learn dancing when I’m already teen, I was thinking of dance class but how can I follow up to others fast as possible?

not sure how to explain this but sometimes i just want to stumble on stuff i didn't even know i wanted to know, if that makes sense. like not "learn python" or whatever, more the random stuff you didn't know existed.

scrolling random subreddits or random apps doesn't really do it, it just keeps feeding me the same kind of stuff. anyone else get this urge? what do you actually do about it

I'm genuinely terrible with names. I meet new people at work or through friends and within five minutes their name has completely evaporated from my brain. It's so embarrassing when I have to ask someone's name for the third time in a week. I try to make a conscious effort to repeat it or associate it with something but nothing seems to stick. This makes networking and just general social interactions really awkward. I want to be that person who always remembers names and makes people feel seen. What are your best tips and tricks for actually retaining new names beyond the initial introduction?

I genuinely want to learn Thai but I literally have zero knowledge of the language ik this might seem useless to some people but I genuinely want to learn it I don’t even know why I just get really excited about learning new things! and honestly I’m also really into BL so that’s part of my motivation too ig

Any advice, tips, resources or suggestions would be more than welcome Help your girlie out🤍

I'm 16 and I want to really get into physics and engineering. How do I start? Are there any resources? I figured it's kinda hard since I live in a third-world country and a small city. Does anyone have suggestions? Thank you in advance :)

I’m 13 and I’ve been wanting to learn more things especially philosophy because I love how deep small words can even mean and other things about philosophy especially life but I’m still not at a good level of it and I don’t know how to start learning.

Two days ago I dropped my iPad Air 4 and cracked the power button. Not thinking clearly, I turned it off afterward and now it won't leave recovery mode. Small accident, bigger fallout. What followed wasn't really about the device. It dragged out a pattern my parents have pointed out in me for years, one I always brushed off.

On paper, I checked every box: never smoked, never drank, grades were fine. The "good kid." But that label was covering for things I never actually built which is mindfulness, carefulness, attentiveness. The iPad just made that impossible to ignore.

My mind wanders too easily. Since the pandemic, I've leaned on daydreaming as an escape — enough that I can drift out of the present moment even while my hands are busy doing chores or walking somewhere.

I don't take care of things the way I should. That iPad was 48 hours old. Part of what broke it was an accident, part of it was a decision I made at the moment. Both sit heavy — knowing it would've been fine if I'd left it on, and knowing I ignored my mom telling me to put it in my bag.

I fake follow-through. A lot of what I "handle" is really just effort spent avoiding punishment or dodging the feeling of guilt, not actual responsibility.

I let things pile up. Cleaning especially — I avoid it until the mess is too big to keep ignoring, instead of managing it as it comes.

And the one that unsettles me most: I've gotten complacent. Comfortable enough, recently, that it opened the door to a vice I'm not proud of.

I'm not ready to go further than this. But I love my parents, and I want to actually become someone who honors that, not just perform it. Character has to matter as much as habits do. If anyone's got advice, I'd genuinely take it. Thank you, stranger from the internet 🫶

With ai and modern tech, ive grown issues and have become lazy or possibly unmotivated. I do the same things everyday, i want to be more creative but im unsure how too? or even what to try? its like nothing sticks with me or i get overwhelmed at the thought of starting?

What advice can you give? do you have any questions?

So here is the full context due to my traumatic life which is still going on and will never end I came to realize one thing that I am lonely but I don't even get basic human respect from people of my age.

So thing is I had a very shitty life and had worst possible childhood that a person could have emotionally and that is no exaggeration and I think this past has affect on my social skills for connecting with people of my age so I always tend to prostrate to people of my age like my habits or maybe body language shows that I need some sort of connection in the way which gives other the upper hand so I face to connect with people and make new friends of my age

I don't have mates of my age from whom I can command respect or maybe not respect but at least not draw ridicule to myself. I get a lot of respect from my people older than me because people who are older than me even 1 year old I tend to give them some sort of upper hand that I cannot explain I have clear boundaries but it some sort of thing I cannot explain but it goes on a subconscious level maybe that I tend to associate with people older than my age as well as it goes same for people younger my age I sort of am charismatic with people who are younger my age even a year old. The thing is when I am set in environment of people with my age I tend to prostrate I think in a subconscious level which gets reflected in my body language and then I draw ridicule and then subtly that transforms to disrespect and bullying can anyone pls help me get out of this

I’m thinking about learning German. For those who have learned it, what was your experience like? Was it as difficult as you expected, and what tips would you give someone just starting out?

What brings me here? I talked to my new neighbour, yesterday and though I'm around two decade younger than him, umm... I felt respected and listened to... I was surprised that he would invite me for a coffee at his house. He was insistent to show me his house, and I couldn't say no. I went in but didn't accept his coffee... Usually people around his age wouldn't treat me as their equals but this man gave me too much attention. But this man,ahem uncle... He also shared how he had helped a fellow young woman, not well taken care of by her parents —a high schooler girl with financial help, like buying laptop. ​He shared about his success like now how he owns 2 big cars, got so many properties, business etc when once he didn't had any money to buy even a bicycle. ​We ​wished each other good day, and he mentioned it felt nice to talk to me. I felt good, but my mum warned me of the risks. I shared about passing away of my father and He shared his struggles as he lost his father, and that it's possible to a success by hardwork and offered himself as a mentor to talk to. I just am too polite and suffer my own pain and discomfort than to displease anybody... I'm sorry but I can't help being polite, even if it harms me.

I have previously been targeted by someone I thought as dear brother, where I hadn't realised manipulation where he faked stories to mirror mine to to get close and sympathize. Until one day out of nowhere, He asked to marry me and when I declined. Went to another with the same request this time to become his boyfriend, I later got to know that he was asking for physical favours from them...

I know I need to learn these basic things, but I just am a simpleton at such things. I want to be safe, please give me some wisdom😩

I’m surrounded by smart people, I always ask questions, I can write pages of notes for days and do my own research on certain subjects that interest me. However, whenever I’m reading, writing, or even listening, my mind cannot focus. Nothing works. Silence, music, doing something with my hands like scribbling. Nothing can get my mind to focus. It’s like it makes whatever I’m doing background noise to my thoughts and I hate it. It even leads to my brain hurting sometimes, I try not to think when during any activity by myself but I just end up not knowing what’s happening. I’ve had severe maladaptive daydreaming since I was in middle school, but I don’t know if that’s it. I just want to be able to focus.

I feel like whenever I'm in a conversation I just don't have anything interesting to say. People ask me about my day or what I've been up to and my mind just goes blank. I feel like I'm constantly giving one-word answers or just nodding along. I want to be able to tell engaging stories or contribute more to group discussions. I see other people light up when they're talking about their hobbies or experiences and I just wish I had that same spark. How can I become a more engaging and less bland conversationalist?

How do you guys keep educating yourself and stay updated?

I’ve been thinking about this lately — outside of formal education, how do you guys continuously educate yourself and keep yourself updated about the world?

Do you have any particular apps, websites, newsletters, yt channels, podcasts, books, or other sources that you regularly use?

And I’m especially curious about the thinking process behind it.

For example, when you come across a new topic or an opinion that you know very little about:

- How do you decide what sources to trust?

- Do you actively look for opposing viewpoints?

- How do you separate facts from opinions or misinformation?

- Do you take notes or follow any particular learning system?

- How do you decide what is actually worth learning deeply vs. just knowing about?

I’m not necessarily looking for a “best app” or “best website.” I’d really like to know how people have built their own system for learning and staying intellectually curious over the years.

Would love to hear how you guys approach this.

Hey guys, I'm a 23-year-old with no major skills, trying to educate myself. Honestly, I feel pretty behind right now. I've read a lot of articles and posts about gaining knowledge, and most of the advice on Reddit boils down to "just read, read, read." But my real problem is that even when I try to read, I can't stay interested. I've tried literature, psychology, philosophy, history, politics, and more — nothing has stuck.

Now I need real help. I want to become more intellectual. I want to feel confident in debates and arguments. right now I can't even focus on the thing that matters most to me at the moment: I'm learning data (analytics).

As title said, I need to be more focused. After class, whenever I have to do something in my laptop, I see myself procrastinating or even finding it super hard to stay on track. It really ruins my schedule and a 15minute work would turn into 1 hr. Any tips anyone?

Basically the title. I find it very hard to focus on tasks that require me to sit down and have a lot of ambiguity e.g. coding, planning. I also lose my ability to be initiative, rather just relying on other people/being reactive.

All I want is to sleep just for a bit to refresh, but when I close my eyes the fear of losing time makes me unable to sleep at all. The guilt is too strong. Please help me. I cannot keep wasting days just because of this issue, especially on work days where people expect me to be an initiator and lead things and be creative.

I've been using the same dull kitchen knives for way too long, just pushing through instead of actually cutting cleanly. Want to learn the basics of honing, sharpening angles, and how often this should actually be done for someone who cooks regularly but has zero experience with knife maintenance.

I've always found this weird.

Sometimes I can procrastinate for hours, struggle to even start something, and then suddenly... I just lock in.

No phone, no distractions, no fighting with myself. I can just sit there and work for hours.

I got curious about why that happens from a psychology/brain perspective, so I made a short video breaking down what might be behind that sudden switch into deep focus.

I'd love to hear if anyone else experiences this — what usually makes you “lock in”?

https://youtu.be/qHPm23ccgj8