Pivoting from mechanic to something new - what worked for you?

My layoff made me rethink whether to stay in my field. I do not usually post, so bear with me. I have a little time and a small budget for training. How did you start?

I took a small pay cut for a year, and it was worth it for the growth afterwards.

Try a small project in the new field before committing. It told me a lot about whether I would enjoy it.