There are a myriad of benefits to working with your hands, as anyone who has a physically active job can tell you. Naturally, your body will benefit from it compared to a largely sedentary job, likely consisting of mountains of paperwork. Consistent exercise throughout the day and, in many cases, being outdoors will lead to improved health. What you may not consider, however, is that your brain also benefits from more “hands on” work.
Seeing a tangible result of your work is certainly good for your self-esteem and goes a long way toward making your job feel like it’s worth doing. But it goes deeper than this: your brain chemistry actually changes when working with your hands vs. less active tasks. “Hands on” work can help forge new neural pathways that couldn’t be formed otherwise. It’s a great stress reliever and can be an ideal choice for those suffering with anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress. Many who have performed and become skilled in their craft will describe it as an almost spiritual experience as they get into their flow. The following are some good choices for anyone looking for physically active work, whether they already appreciate the benefits or are looking for a change in life.
Power Equipment
There are plenty of paths one could take with power equipment from landscaping to manufacturing or even working in an outdoor power equipment store. When thinking about a job in a store like this, you might picture yourself just standing at a desk and talking to customers, and while that will be part of the experience, it’s hardly the whole story. Even if you’re in a solely sales position, you’ll still have to learn all of the equipment functions and how to use each tool properly. This will give you both the opportunity to experience the best tools first hand and share your knowledge with others. Of course, the health and retirement benefits that can come with higher sales positions aren’t bad either.
If you want to take a more independent approach or spend the majority of your time outdoors, then landscaping may be right for you, as it offers both possibilities. You’ll inherently spend your time outdoors working with gardening tools and equipment, and many who choose this path decide to start their own business. Benefits of this generally include keeping all the profits, since most independent landscapers handle all the work themselves, and choosing your own equipment and business practices. The seasonal nature of the job can be both a blessing and a curse, but this is true whether you’re operating independently or as part of an established company.
Automotive Industry
The automotive industry is generally considered a great career choice for both pay and benefits, and it naturally involves plenty of physical work. Whether you’re working on paintless dent repair or installing a new windshield, automotive repair is a rewarding field that doesn’t require much more than the willingness to be trained. This is a great choice for those who enjoy tinkering with their own vehicles, and there are plenty of opportunities to start your own business. Take the story of Matthew Crawford, American writer and senior fellow at the University of Virginia, for example. Even though he had the education and background for any number of “thinking” jobs, he enjoyed working on his motorcycle so much that he decided to open his own motorcycle repair shop.
Of course, repairs aren’t the only possibility in this industry. Those interested in painting could pursue a specialization in automotive equipment painting. These workers will generally paint new models or refinished ones and can also use their skills for any number of other products.
Those who are more interested in growing jobs and variety may be interested in becoming diesel mechanics, as demand is projected to increase by at least 9% in the next seven years. While plenty of the work involved will have to do with diesel powered vehicles, these mechanics will also be able to work with a growing force of shipping fleets and heavy equipment, ensuring involvement in a variety of fields.
Marine Equipment
Of course, there are more options for tinkerers than the automotive industry. If you live near the water or just have a passion for recreational boating, you could always try a marine dealership. This will allow you many of the same repair/sales positions as the automotive industry, along with the potential perks of working for a certified marine dealership. These include marketing partnerships and guides for best practices to stand above the competition, recognition at boat shows, MRRA (Marine Retailers Association of America) discounts, and customer assurance.
Material Handling
Material handling certainly has some overlap with the previously mentioned fields, but it is specifically defined as short distance moving within a warehouse or between a warehouse and vehicle. If you’re working somewhere like this material handling company in New Jersey, you’ll generally be dealing with things like resource allocation, process management, inventory management, production planning, and customer delivery.
Whether you’re a forklift driver or a floor manager, material handling is guided by a set of ten principles. The first of these is planning, which defines the needs, performance objectives, and functional specifications of the proposed systems involved. This is a team approach involving consultants, suppliers, and end users. The remaining principles all focus on things like standardized processes, efficient work methods, space utilization, and using automation whenever possible. When working in this field, it’s likely your job will change throughout the day, and you’ll learn all of the systems involved and be able to transfer these skills to other fields.
Transportation
Let’s say you aren’t really concerned with the inner workings of machinery or how things are made. You’re just looking to make a good profit and have memorable experiences. Luckily, logistics and transportation are among the biggest industries in the world and are highly profitable. Getting things from point A to point B might not sound that interesting on paper, but you’ll get to see new scenery constantly and potentially make cross country trips on certain hauls. Trucking is a specialty position, so you can count on job security for the foreseeable future, and the majority of trucking companies offer comprehensive health benefits, not to mention the bonus pay associated with more difficult hauls. You’ll also have a good amount of flexibility and control over your job by choosing the kinds of loads you want to take on. Just be sure you have a good commercial truck insurance plan before heading out on the open road.
Sports Facilities
Maybe you aren’t that interested in the manufacturing or creative processes, but you still want to maintain high levels of activity throughout your day. If you have an interest in sports, then working at a sports center can be greatly rewarding. Sports and recreation centers are great for staying in shape and reducing stress, and you’ll also be benefiting families and children in the community. Familial ties are strengthened by spending time with each other, and sharing recreational time can improve parent-child relationships as well as spousal relationships.
Structured recreational programs for youths also benefit the community by lowering juvenile crime rates. Giving local children a safe place to play keeps them off the streets and encourages cultural diversity. These centers can also be great for child care by keeping children out of empty homes while their parents are working and may even provide programs to help further physical and mental growth.
Whether you’re looking for money, the satisfaction of making a difference, or both, there are plenty of options to fulfill the need for physicality at work at virtually any stage in life.