Retraining into something physical (40s)

[KPPlumbing]

Like many of us, I'm about to open my pissing, bastarding, arseing laptop and sit infront of it, bored out of my nut, for the next 8 hours.

I'm early 40s and the older I get, I'm finding it increasingly hellish sitting down and staring at a screen all day. I want to move my body.

I've been to the gym this morning, and will break up the day with a dog walk, but I'm finding office work (whether I'm in the office or wfh) terminable.

Have you, or any other women you know, retrained into a physical job (any kind would be fine and I'm not so bothered about salary these days)?

Early 40s is a weird age. I'm fit as a fiddle, but I feel physical jobs are more geared towards men, and some doors feel closed due to my age.

I've looked into firefighting, which has no upper age limit, but they are never recruiting anywhere near where I live.

Thanks!

I think you need a 3 year degree these days unfortunately.

Great! What did you do before?

I used to sit at a laptop alone all day long. Hated it.
Retrained to teach Pilates early 40s. Love my job. I meet people, I move my body, I know I can keep learning and teaching in this area for the rest of my life.

I do, and they are. But I have to go into the office on different days every week. I have no set routine, so I'd struggle to commit to that sort of thing.

Amazing. How did you retrain? How long did it take? I'm big into fitness and would love to work in the fitness world somehow.

I volunteer as a gardener two days a week. I bloody love it. Out in the mud in all weathers. I’m filthy and knackered afterwards. I spent nearly 40 years desk bound in IT, I never dreamed that physical work would be so rewarding and therapeutic. If I had my time again I’d train in horticulture.

I only work part-time but earn around 22k. You can definitely earn more.

Same for me and my job. Even on days in the office, the atmosphere just isn't there any more, with everyone sitting on Teams calls and hakf of everyone at home. And everyone seems so much flakier. I'll think "Great, I've got 4 in-person meetings today and will be nice and busy and see lots of people", and 3 of them will get cancelled at short notice.

Following for ideas, as I’m a similar age and considering a change

That's a very respectable part time salary

They are extremely competitive. People with those jobs have the right qualifications (quite likely degree or higher) and tonnes of experience.

I started working in a plant nursery when I was in my late 30s and now work as a gardener (I'm 40). Lots of older women go into horticulture. It is very good for keeping you fit. But it doesn't pay terribly well, and you do have to be very careful that an injury doesn't cause you serious problems.

Thank you! I work about 5 hours a day, give or take. There's definitely the business available for me to do more, but I have autism and find anything more than about 25 hours a week gives me burnout if I do it long-term.

If you run, be a dog runner. LIke a walker but you run with dogs. Its for people who have cani-cross dogs (people who race with their dogs) who need a higher level of activity than just a daily walk.

If you like dogs you could be a dog minder (dogs in your home)- some people on here have said they do that and love it and are booked up well in advance.

I would however second the caution of a pp above. As you get older you injure more quickly and recover more slower. You will not have hit peri menopause yet, but that is when I really noticed this starting to happen. So do think about how active your new job is.

I knew a tree surgeon in his 40s who was desperate to get out and he said it was a young man's game. It was just too exhausting for him as he got older.

Yes that's what I thought. It's so much harder to change career than it used to be.

Forest School teacher. This is what I want to do next!

Im nearly 50 and spending 8 hours a day in front of a computer is ruining my health, Im getting more and more unfit but find my job so draining im too exhausted to exercise. Ideally I would like to do something where I get to move around but nothing too punishing. Following with interest.

Following with interest!

I’ve often thought I’d like to work in a garden centre, but the reality is that you will be lugging heavy bags of compost out to customers cars, standing or sitting at a till for hours or rearranging the stock on shelves, my friend has just quit one of the large garden centre chains because the management treated her like shit over some sick leave after being totally inflexible when she has had caring responsibilities (elderly parent), low pay etc. I know employers in any field can be like that though, there is an element of luck.

Carers are always in demand for the elderly. Very rewarding as well as physical. My job as a nursery nurse I was often on the go and also as a dental nurse I was up and down the bloody stairs all day . I am the opposite to you age 56 what job can I do sitting downs as I have inflammatory arthritis? !

My friend made a career change to countryside ranger but had to do a degree in it and long term, serious volunteering and this was 30 years ago. He made a good career out of it and worked his way up to a senior position with Natural England but it was hard. I've seen comments on her before where people clearly think it's just a case of driving around in a landrover making sure people aren't lighting BBQs and mending the odd fence but there is far more to it, a lot of science, health and safety, running volunteer groups, working with contractors, engaging with local authorities etc.

Basically anything physical and somewhat rewarding is very low paid. It’s like a punishment for being allowed to go outside and enjoy your life 🤔

I also WFH, 8 hours a day, sit in front of my laptop although I do have a ridiculous amount of meetings which makes me feel less lonely 😳

I look back and wish I'd joined the police but at 48, realise that ship has sailed. However I'm still thinking of joining the 'Specials' to do voluntary police shifts. I need to crack on if so though before I lose the momentum!

There’s no upper age limit for the police and at 48 you have nearly 20 more years of work… there are lots of routes to becoming police, both detective and PC… I know cos I looked into it!
It’s the culture that puts me off, I think the work could be interesting.

I’m literally sitting in a tedious Teams meeting now…