I can endorse that as an idea,I picked a course I thought might be interesting,then picked a few more I thought they were random at first,went from ecology,t art in medicine to sub Saharan Africa the short story writing and journalism,then digital marketing and suddenly found a direction.I can't go off to Africa and help on the ground,but currently using the writing and graphics skills I have to support a school gardens project from here.But even if you don't find a direction as such,They are short courses and don't require more than a couple of hours a week unless you want to make them do by going off and researching. Other students come from all over the world,you communicate by comments online,so no joining anything,but you find different kinds of friends with common interests . its very civilised even where people dont have the same solutions or opinions no trolling allowed.
I think for me,recognising I can use my brain,that I have something valuable to say and finding others with my interests,has given me back confidence.I also tried joining stuff locally but found the cliques well and truly ingrained but also nothing I was interested enough to care about not going back,and nothing in common with the people here.( ivhad to move when I lost my husband)