How do I get a job?

[Namebunny]

Once a high flyer, as a creative in advertising. somehow I’ve been a sahm for ages. Illness etc has kept me busy. I can illustrate, paint, design, think of ideas..but I don’t know where to turn as I’m knocking on (57) how did that happen! And I obviously don’t have a contemporary folio or skill set. Is it worth applying for some sort of graphic course to refresh my skills or am I just too ancient.
Have had shop work, but would love to somehow use my skills and get into an office, ideally creative in some way.What can I possibly do? Help!

Haha! Do you really have a commute? Mine is from the kitchen to the desk in the corner of our bedroom. So glam.

Anyway, while I was waiting for you, I drew the words CHANGE MY LIFE WEEK in my day book/journal, and coloured them in. lol Then wrote my list. I'm working (in a shop, I have a p/t job that's fun but pays minimum wage and is a time suck but keeps me out and about meeting people) Thurs, Fri and Sat, so I only have 3 days to change my life.

My list:

1. Email the writing tutor I've been hiding from as the homework was too hard. He actually contacted me yesterday, I think to discover I was dead.

2. Do the first Task in the writing challenge thing I'm doing, that I hadn't done.

3. Do the second task in the writing challenge thing.

4. Draft a list of ideas for the newspaper I write a lot for. They pay so well and are all so lovely, but FEAR has made me just wait for commissions instead of actively searching for them.

5. I had a new novel idea last week - sketch up a draft of the plot and characters.

6. Look into doing another writing course... Actually, maybe stop doing courses and just actually write??

7. Read a chapter of the book on writing I bought years ago and never opened

8. Write one blog post

9. Choose a theme for my new website

That's an uneasy number of tasks.. but I think 9 is a lucky number in China or something so I'll leave it there.

I think I'll break these tasks down into little steps as I'm already slightly overwhelmed. 😂

Just having a list is a real step forward though. Basically my 59 years of life have just drifted past because I never did lists. Now I've discovered lists, surely I can become productive?

I'm really tempted to just lie on my bed reading "feel the fear and do it anyway" which I could totally justify to myself as being a good use of my time. But I won't. The Old Me would've. But not New, Listy Me.

50 years!!! Not 59. Unless I've totally faffed about this morning for 9 years longer than I thought. 😅

I'm really tempted to just lie on my bed reading "feel the fear and do it anyway"

I read it once. Managed to manifest a sold-out magazine for a sibling. Nothing at all happened for me.

There are 15 things on my list …

Do you want to post your list, @EdmontinaTiresofNameFlipping? If it helps you fee more accountable?

I've not done anything yet. Argh/ugh/sigh.

Where's everyone gone? paws the window, plays 'All By Myself" on Spotify

So it's halfway through the first day of the Life Changing Week. How are you getting on? I'm battling with my usual ADHD (self diagnosed) flailing but I've done this:

• Drafted up a (shit) plot for my book;
• Joined Nanowrimo and invited my cousins to join too, as we all vowed to write novels this year);
• Had breakfast;
• Made my bed;
• Annoyed my eldest by not giving him a lift to work. It's only a 10-minute walk, and I hadn't promised him, but I still feel guilty. I didn't do it because I'm still in my dressing gown.
• Had 3 coffees;
• Watched an episode of something on Netflix while I ate breakfast;
• Actually, bollocks, that's it. Only one of those things was even on my list!

Update!

Today I've actually done stuff! Nobody is more surprised than I!

2. Do the first Task in the writing challenge thing I'm doing, that I hadn't done. DONE!

3. Do the second task in the writing challenge thing. DONE!

4. Draft a list of ideas for the newspaper I write a lot for. NOT DONE but they rang me with a commission and I did that instead!

5. I had a new novel idea last week - sketch up a draft of the plot and characters. HALF DONE

How's everyone else getting on? Please don't let me become an international bestselling billionaire by myself. 😔

Oh my, Albert bridge, this is the funniest string of posts!

It’s stupid o clock and I forgot to go to sleep so will do that now and pop on at 9 tomorrow for a coffee? Sorry about this morning, my commute is round the block and back to the still dirty kitchen. Amazing. What happened to the house elves?
Well DONE. From totally daunting list to ACHIEVING!! Happy dance! 👻😜👏
I sort of wrote a list and lost it. I did a lot of..er, what exactly? Definitely not housework… I too have self diagnosed adhd, except in the mornings when I’m still in bed. It does explain a lot.
See you tomorrow!

There you are! When you didn't return hi this thread yesterday I guessed you'd either:

1. Had such a productive day that you'd totally remembered how awesome you are and immediately dumped under-achieving me; or:

2. Done absolutely nothing, then felt guilty and hid this thread. 😆 (Which is what I'd do.)

I think lists are THE WAY out of our quagmire. I even made a list for today last night. I've already messed that up though as it said I'd be having a shower at 7.30 and .. I didn't.

Please post your list!! Now you're back I'm all fired up again, so I'll turn the TV off and get in the shower now.

Hello

Hello!!

Bloody hell, list..where did I put it..
Here, and I’ve added time frames cos that’s what I believe you are supposed to do.
I’ve tried trello, a planner, lists..maybe posting here will help! Scary cos Who Is Reading…and judging!
Catch up with Etsy orders. 2 hours.
Post 2 new listings that people have requested! Yay! 2 hours.
Not be sacred of insta and Facebook.give up on time frames and panic.
Post on said.
Ideally create a plan of posts so I’m not just burbling at the screen.
Cold call possible clients.
Smile at Dp who is hassling me as to whether I’m earning any money . I’m not. 🥺
Get ready to actually see client tomorrow!
Re seal shower.
Sand and paint all the windows and down pipes.
Redecorate entire house.
Mow lawn
Run away to Barbados.

How are you doing?

Hello too! I thought you were inspiring/terrifying in equal measure yesterday. You got stuff done! Well done!
Oh pants, go to lidl.
Gosh it’s gloomy today, very very nice to hear from a fellow person.

Omg -- you've got such a lot of money waiting in your list! Those orders, plus the new listings - that's CASH BABY!

DOLLAH DOLLAH BILLS YO (as they say in Breaking Bad).

Please please please concentrate on that rather than sanding your down pipe. 😆 Please, for me?

I can see DIY is your version of my cooking. I spend HOURS cooking. It's 100% a displacement activity. But there's no money in it.

Probably, long term, you'd do well to outsource your social media. But in the meantime, YES to a schedule. I just read about a social-posting thing called something Edgar... it reposts your posts if you've been too scared/lazy/crap to write new ones. It sounded awesome. £10 a month though.

Omg you are going to be RICH.

Scary cos Who Is Reading…and judging!

Oh, fuck everyone. Let's get so rich that we can afford somebody sunglasses and cars with blacked-out windows.

And let's not forget we're both in our 59s when women become invisible. Let's make that work FOR us.

Nobody cares what we do. At last! Freedom!

*spendy

*50s

Why do I keep typing 59? Argh, maybe that's the age that I die. 😬 Which should be motivating, but actually makes me think I'll just spend the next 9 years on Netflix.

One thing about your list: I think it should be slightly more specific in terms of what you want to get done when it comes to social media. It went vague which might reveal your panic/fear/hatred of that subject.

Maybe instead of time goals for social media, you set post goals? And these can be SMALL so not to be scary.

For example:

Tuesday: set up one social scheduling account (Later, That Edgar Thing, or something easy). That's it. Done.

Wednesday: create 1 post for Insta. That's it. Done.

Thursday: sketch out your theme for November social posts - appropriate posts for certain dates. (TIME FOR IDEAS! A happy place!) that's it done.

Friday: Schedule 2 of your November posts. That's it. Done. Etc.

Maybe? Just a thought. I'm totally 100% telling you what to do to avoid doing my own stuff. Please feel free to do that in reverse! 😂

Oh I love suggestions! I get in such a muddle and can’t think clearly about wots so obvious to everyone else!
I LOVE your enthusiasm! I would LOVE to be rich! I will be proud to say, that billionaire author under the palm tree? I KNOW HER!
Thanks for the tips re planning.
And no, I HATE Diy, I want to earn enough to pay someone else. The house is a bit scary though atm.!
Onwards! What’s your plan for the day?

Hello! It's been a busy morning achieving NOTHING work related.

I've made the bed, had breakfast, showered (finally) and spent way too long on my hair. I drove Dad to the doctors, and bought new Tepe things from the dentist AND BOUGHT THE NICEST BLACK V NECK JUMPER EVER MADE. That's a win as I've banned myself from buying "meh" clothes and only buy OMFG clothes and I'd been searching for ages.

Got home, new router was delivered so I installed that. Got moaned at by teenager for (years ago) not allowing him to run Ethernet cables through the house to his bedroom. I told him he needed to let go of his anger, and make his own lunch.

Now I have too much to do. 😆

“Let Go of Your Anger, and Make Your Own Lunch!” could be a fantastic follow up to “Get Out of My Life - But First Take Me and Alex Into Town”

$$$

Haha! I actually went back and talked more to him about this and I sense he’s holding on to a LOT of pain. I divorced his dad when he was only 6, and probably made every mistake possible along the way. I think he and I need family therapy and I suggested this again today but he flat out refused. He won’t even talk about things. So I think I’ll go see a family therapist first by myself, and get some advice, then maybe he could go along later if he wanted to? And hopefully one day we could go along together? I think he needs to scream and yell at me in a safe place and I need to apologise and explain and help him feel how loved he is. He’s 18, going to uni next year. My mind is spinning ahead and picturing him never wanting to see me again.

Sorry ~ that all got very deep.

And I made him a fish finger sandwich.

You are 😄 and edmontina, you made me laugh x
So nice to have a chat , I always lose the plot at 4 ish, so nice to have a coffee break with you guys.
Sorry to hear you made him a fish finger sandwich. Ok, I mean you’ve had a crap divorce time thing. It’s not easy all this adult stuff. Maybe the family therapist will help get him to visit. Or maybe you changing helps him change? Sorry, out of my depth! ( beats hasty retreat into platitudes) Aren’t they all a bit ‘angry young man ‘ at 18?
Easier to ask about jumper! Need details!
Have been far too perfectionist today, and am about to look at some sort of insta plan.
Everyone says chunk it down, but That’s a lot of chunks I’ve got here.
A new chunk for the new us is a 10 minute sketch every day.
( ooh er) and an insta post.Thanks for your tips. I need to view myself as a client. - take myself out for a swanky lunch 😂
Hope all is good x

I talked to my new, improved DH (it's been 10 years, but I still view him as new) about DS1 and he said DS1 has had everything very easy, which might be making him angrier than you'd expect. I think I'll still go therapy by myself. DS1 came down to dinner and was SUPER FRIENDLY which I don't know how to interpret. Men are a mystery to me.

Omg jumped! It's a size 0! Which I think means it's meant to be baggy, but on me it's like a second skin 😂 It's got a deep V neck and tiny epaulettes!! And these weird gals held together with tiny silver buttons on the sleeves. I feel UNBELIEVABLE in it.

Your chunks.. have you ever researched a content calendar/plan for Insta? This is where we need account managers. Bring in the suits! If they fave you an overview/strategy/problem you'd be ALIVE. It's so hard yo see your own business with that birds eye view, especially if you feel YOU are your business. How would you market someone else? I know you should do like if I know that's really hard as I can't do it either. 😂

I'm out tonight 🎉 and tomorrow night 🎉 and then working Thursday-Sat. Somehow I feel my novel won't be written this week.

Sorry for typos. I bought the iPhone 13 mini and the keyboard is for dolls. Plus I'm too vain to increase the text size so I'm honestly stabbing at random.

GAPS in the sleeves. Not gals.