[vundercind]

Seconding contract work. Getting a small gig doing a few hours of work or regular part-time is very achievable if you’re familiar with Python and are looking more for the work than the money—so won’t balk at pay in the two-digits per hour—maybe even the low half of that range—like a lot of programmers will. Though, beware, low paying clients are often also very unpleasant or unreasonable bosses in other ways. Take your time and find a good fit.

Doing anything might help with self-confidence, might knock the rust off any skills and provide exposure to new stuff, plus networking. And the money doesn’t hurt.

Maybe ETL stuff at mid-sized companies. That crap’s everywhere, is always bad anyway so who cares if you fuck it up (I… half-jest) and often uses Python. Most of it’s very simple if you get over the hurdle of fancier-sounding-than-it-is terminology.

(I have no specific advice on the broader mental health front aside from emphatically echoing “talk to a professional”—but if you’re feeling ready to work and the lack of it’s making things worse, the above’s what I’d suggest)