but there's something to be said about doing something with your hands and going to bed physically tired...

your other option is mentally drained, potentially depressed, probably anxious - especially if/when something breaks on you

i went with the desk job, yearn for something else.. would rather have become a machinist or welder looking back. do both as hobbies now to clear the head from the desk job

That’s the thing though… a desk job often affords you the time and income to pursue those other things as hobbies. The reverse is less often true.