Is 34 too late to begin a career and make a life for myself?

[ColleeWobbles]

The lockdown has been a massive wake up call to me tbh. It has barely had any affect on my life at all.
I read about people struggling to cope and talk to members of my family who are getting depressed and really suffering with being locked in the house. But genuinely this is my life and it's making me so sad now.

I've struggled with social anxiety since my teens and I go out as little as possible anyway, only leave the house for food shopping and school pick up/drop off (when not in lock down obv). I've been plodding along through life this way and it's become my norm. It's so pathetic and obviously it's a terrible example for my little boy. There is no point to my life .

But at 34 with no work experience/qualifications who is going to hire me? I don't know how I'll cope in the world either, it's obviously been easier to avoid my anxiety than confront it.
Am I past it now? Is it too late to do something meaningful with my life (aside from motherhood)?
I'm feeling so low right now.

Simple one word answer: No.

If you want to change your life you can. It's just that the earlier you start tends to make it a bit easier, but I know people who have taken totally new directions in their 40s, 50s and 60s (the 60yo did it in style she emigrated and really started a new life).

Nope.

Start working out what you want to do now.

My dad only started his dream career path when he was 55
It took him 3 years of hard slog to get there but hes 70 now with no regrets!

It’s never too late. You’re never too old. I understand how you feel, I am in a similar boat to you. But now more than ever I’ve realised that life is too short and if you want to change your job or your life you can do it. You can do it.

It’s never too late, 34 is still young enough to turn your life around. Rather than being sad about where you are now, be proud that you have decided to make a change. Use this downtime to do some research? Some online training?

34 is so young! You're not past it!

If you want to change things then setting small goals that gradually build you up towards your ultimate bigger goal is the most sustainable way to approach things. It sets you up for success and to feel a sense of achievement if you start small.

Do you have any ideas on what you would like to start adding into your life?

Obviously right now you can't really increase what you're doing out the house that much, but you could start laying the groundwork.

Thank you so much for the replies! It's nice to feel your positivity and it definitely makes me feel less hopeless and more positive.

I've been stuck in my little bubble for so long that I have no idea what I'd want to do. When I was younger the only ambition I had was to be a children's author/illustrator but o have absolutely no idea how I'd go about that.

The thing is that although I know deep down I'm not stupid, I've been stuck in my own little anxious bubble and also living in a mentally abusive relationship for so long I feel like I've lost the ability to think things through properly..I don't know quite how to explain it but mentally my brain just feels so slow and as if I can't think straight.

Thinking about it now, I feel like growing up I actually did have a few ambitions, or possible careers I wanted to explore but various people at different points in my life told me o couldn't/wouldn't be able to do it and I was so weak minded that I just believed them and stopped trying.
God I'm such a pathetic excuse for a person.

I spent a lot of time flitting through jobs, but I was about your age when I found my niche. I've worked hard, am on a good salary, have great benefits and now have a job I love.

Go for it.

You are NOT pathetic, absolutely not.

Following as I'm feeling exactly the same (except I'm 37). I also feel my brain works at a snails pace. I used to be really bright but years of doing crap jobs and then 5 years at home as a SAHM and I can't even figure out what to google re: what I'd like to do in life.

It’s absolutely not too late! I’m in my 40s and still considering retraining.

You might be interested in a children’s book illustration course with the London Art College. I did it about 10 years ago and loved it. It’s distance learning, so ideal right now. I also self-publish via CreateSpace.

Go for it!

Thank you @lachy
I feel so dim, people say to take it step by step but I feel like I can't figure out what steps to take and how to make decisions. I'm even finding it hard to describe what I'm on about

Definitely time to make a change. Let your kid motivate you.

Have you got any qualifications i.e A Levels? I didn't so I did an Access course at college... then a degree at uni... then a Masters!

@mulkshake I'm sorry you're feeling this way too, but it's also nice to feel a bit less alone in feeling like this! ❤️

@OneWildNightWithJBJ thank you for this, I will google the children's book illustration course and also CreateSpace!!
Once you self publish, what do you do with your books? Do you sell them online?

I went to university at 40 and got a job as soon as I graduated (and did a Masters at the same time) - I'm now 48 and have just started training as a solicitor.

It's never too late - doesn't have to be academic. Find something you're genuinely interested in and start making plans. Good luck!

@ColleeWobbles, the books are sold via Amazon. You don’t have to do anything, just upload it and it’s printed and posted for you when someone buys it. Good luck!

I feel the same way, OP!

No I don't have any qualifications. I really struggled in the last couple of years of school to the point I rarely attended. I managed a year at college to retake my GCSEs but again struggled and only just managed 5 C grades

I'm the exact same hun but 26. Crippling anxiety, long string of MH issues. I avoid even going to the corner shop on my own. Virtually no work experienced and youngest starts school next year. Am also totally useless, no talents.
Hugs.

Sorry I'm so slow at replying, I really do appreciate the replies.
@lazarusb well done! Solicitor was one of the careers I had an interest in when I was a teen but was basically told I'm too dim and quiet. The thing is I know I wasn't dim, I was just too shy to speak up. Now I feel like my brain is just complete mush so definitely not something I'm up to

@OneWildNightWithJBJ oh that's really good!! Thank you, it is something I feel like I would really enjoy doing too ❤️

@OneWildNightWithJBJ sorry for asking loads of questions, but when you illustrate you books do you use a special app or laptop for drawing or anything?

I left school with 2 O levels. In my 20s and 30s I did 3 GCSEs, then an A level (part-time at night school). I got points for University by studying with the OU. Believe me, I'm no genius and it's been a hard slog.

Learning anything is an achievement - doesn't matter what it is or what level it is. The key is finding something you like.

You've already taken the first step. You've started asking questions, rather than just continuing as you were. So if this feels like a hard journey to start, don't worry: you've already started.

You are completely worthy. Do not question this. This is the foundation that you work from. This is your one fact to hold onto, to fall back in, to use to your advantage.

You have lots of time. It's miles away from being too late.

Somebody said to me a while ago that what you used to like doing when you were 11 years old is a good place to start for ideas about what you might want to do for a living/as a hobby. Maybe that'll spur an idea or two?