Jobs and working

[Liftmyselfupagain]

Throwing this random question out there. I am back working FT in a professional desk based job with two kids in primary school. Sort of single mum too so even though i have my mortgage sorted I can't flute around earning nothing.

That said - I cannot sit at a desk for the rest of my life. It sucks the life out of my body and I crave moving and being out and about - honestly it makes me feel depressed and defeated thinking this is it. Plenty people have jobs that don't mean they sit at desks for 8 hours a day and seem to do well in life and have enough.

I am very creative, a painter, a bit of a maker, have an eye for design (but can't see myself as an interior designer), into food, fashion, nature, creating spaces, good writer, good chatter and negotiator, very caring.

I am well educated but really in the polar opposite of what interests me in life, encouraged to take the sensible road when i was young to survive.

Does anyone have any leads. I get so far and then manage to talk myself out of any idea I have and think I am for the birds with silly ideas. Need to set out thr first few steps as I get overwhelmed with the fact that I must be a dreamer. But honestly I would LOVE to take some pleasure in my job in a realistic way, even be my own boss and be able to pick my kids up every now and then, I miss them.

PLEASE :)

I felt exactly the same I studied for years to get professional qualifications, but I was depressed sitting at a desk for 8 hours a day. So I saved up for years then I sold up and moved to Spain I did some gardening and housekeeping work, I loved moving around and being on my feet all day.

Did you bring kids along with you? I know I can’t be the only one who feels like this and at the same time I know the bulk of people have it so much worse. Off to work now….

No kids for me.

Is there any role in your present company that interests you?

I'm one for playing it safe when you have kids, so depending what the business is, might be an idea to consider training/ a sideways move if possible where you are.

If there's nothing, maybe start a side hustle if you can fit in a couple of hours after the kids are in bed or before they get up and see how it goes? It sounds like you talk yourself out of ideas. Maybe just follow through with one instead.

Sorry, didn't mean to quote you.

Unfortunately once you have kids you are constrained. You need to keep a roof over their heads and feed and clothe them.

Most people don't like sitting at a desk for 8 hours a day but they do it to pay the bills.

If you want to retrain you will have to work out what you need to earn and work back from there.

I’m very similar to you OP. I’m currently trying to find more stable work as my kids are all adults now and I need to fund myself without any child support or tax credits etc

I’ve run loads of creative businesses over the years, also had an office job which I hated with a passion. The most lucrative job I’ve had over the years was as a childminder. I only had school age kids, so no babies or toddlers to deal with. I’d collect up to 6 or 7 of them from school, so was taking £30-35 an hour for 3 hours or so per day. I’m considering going back to something like that but maybe focussing on art and crafts or cooking classes, as my DD loved those at age 3/4.

I always fancied interior design but someone who had experience of it told me there’s minimal creativity, its mainly about managing tradesmen, which doesn’t sound as fun!

Following this thread to see if anyone has any good suggestions.