I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up

[OrangeBananaFish]

Mid 40's and still have no idea what I want to do for a living.

I work in an office. I was never going to work in an office when I was younger, but I wanted my evenings and weekends free when I was younger so took an office job and I have been ever since then. I feel like I'm stuck now. I have a routine. I have plans most weekends and like to do certain things on an evening.

I have a degree (not a great one) and can't afford to retrain myself. Even if I could I have no idea what in. Also DH doesn't earn enough to support me so I need to work full time.

I just feel stuck. I move from job to job every 3-5 years or so. Hoping that the next one will be better, but it just isn't. I've decided that my current work just isn't for me (I decided this long ago, but haven't had the nerve to do anything about it)

Find something you love and work with that people say. I enjoy running, but I'm hardly the next gold medal winner for team GB even if I wasn't too old for that now. I do like being outside, but not very good at gardening etc. I like walking and taking in the nature.

There is no real point to this post really, just want to get it out there on my own thread and hope to bounce about some ideas or see if anyone else has been in a similar position and what they did about it.

Why not have a look through the threads on the Mature Study and Retraining board? You might find something that appeals. Or an experience that persuades you that you do still have options.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/mature_students

Do you like children or teens or young people?

Some kind of forest school/running coach/youth worker could work if you do.

Do you like animals? That's the other obvious choice if you like being outside.

Regarding I have a degree (not a great one) and can't afford to retrain the Mature Study board is stuffed with people doing full time MAs alongside work. (Or part time.) The point is, if you pick a subject at a place you can commute to, your Government Postgraduate Loan would cover your fees, and you wouldn’t have any extra maintenance costs.

Or you could look at apprenticeships. There may well be something that would pay enough while you train, to make it worthwhile to leave your office job.

I remember feeling stuck for years and years, until I found something I so badly wanted to do, I swept all difficulty out of the way to achieve it. (MA, decades after first degree, in a completely new subject. Scholarship on entry, graduated with Distinction.)

The thing is, @OrangeBananaFish - nothing will happen while you continue to say, effectively, Nothing can change. You will have to change something. Whether that’s getting your husband’s full support, or having to work outside 9-5, or dropping all your weekend plans for a year in order to study …

Have you considered something in Estate /Woodland Management?

Don't worry about. Pretty much most people are the same. The more imagination you have the harder it is.

50. Given up trying to swim out of the flow. Content and happy with that.

Not everyone is though, @Damnloginpopup ! That’s essentially why MNHQ were persuaded to set up the Mature Study board. Tbh it’s astonishing that a site aimed at parents - primarily mothers - didn’t, until then, have any dedicated space for women returning to education or work. They do now. It’s worth a look.

I'm the same @OrangeBananaFish and I recently posted something similar.
Turning 40 this year, office job, feeling uninspired and want 'more' but don't know what that is.
There are three areas that I'm interested in but all cost a lot to retrain in and what if it doesn't work out? What if I end up not liking that either?

Certainly studying is good. I went back and did more gcse and a level studies for fun in my early thirties and a BA a few years after. I've got a stack of level 3s from various work courses too. Redundant in Feb after over a decade, went and got a food hygiene level 2 and set up a temporary food stand, closed after three months, profitable, and passed a high level (hobby) course yesterday - but I've given up trying to forge a long term career (or even decide what I'm going to do next). Mind you, I've got four casual part time jobs on the go now so there could be a future in that 😁 (two came out of my food stand, offers on account of my 'customer service' - I am just friendly).

The thing is one needs a level of specialisation to get interesting work.

So it’s worthwhile seeking out the best career advice (for adults), or pushing yourself in an area you’re talented in - so you can find a really specific retraining path.

I've retrained at various times of my life I've been a nurse (RN), then an airline stewardess which was the job I hated the most), then I worked in 3 offices doing medical insurance claims, then I was a prison officer for 19 years, then I trained to be an NHS podiatrist in my 40's which I'm still doing in my 60's. My current job is very fulfilling and it's 9-5 with weekends and bank holidays off but I do optional Saturday overtime as its double pay.
They let you work to 75 if you want to.
I was a single parent with my own home so I had to work my way through university for the podiatry degree, evenings, weekend and holidays to pay my mortgage but it was really worth it.
You can do anything you want, you just have to want it enough.
Maybe try volunteering or doing a few evening courses for some inspiration.

Sorry prison officer for 10 years, typo.

I'm also doing an advanced bookbinding course as I want to do bookbinding when I finally retire for some extra income.

Oh! Have you ever been here, @Gettingbysomehow?

Gladstones Library

I’ve often sat for hours on the gallery floor of the library, distracted from my own research by watching a bookbinder work downstairs. It looks such a fascinating and absorbing occupation.

I'm still waiting to grow up.

I was always a don't know..that's why I ended up in banking.
Backing singer for Pink Floyd never worked out.
I grew up in rural Somerset. Missed going to grammar school by a year or so and the careers advice at my school was pretty rubbish. For the people who didn't go to University the options were Civil Service, Nursing or Banking.