Do you _really_ want to do programming in your spare time? I know that this is a common thing in the industry, but that should be the exception more than the ru

Do you _really_ want to do programming in your spare time? I know that this is a common thing in the industry, but that should be the exception more than the rule. No reason your hobby should be related so directly to your profession. I'm a fairly senior engineer, confident in my professional abilities, and I'm similar to you: I just don't have anything programming-related to do, and don't have ideas either. Well, I haven't done anything programming-related in my free time in ~5y, focused on other stuff (music, climbing, crafting, travelling, socialising) and I'm very happy about it. In fact, the least I touch a computer the happier I am.