Help me choose my direction in life

[FrancineSmith]

I’m approaching 40, my children are teens and I’m thinking about what next. I didn’t have a career pre-kids, I started my family young and have had a range of jobs over the years but nothing really ‘skilled’. I have been studying an OU degree on and off for 7 years, but keep changing direction with that. I’m on a study break right now and trying to decide what to change to when I go back in September.

My biggest problem is that I’m so indecisive. I get intensely passionate about a new subject/hobby/idea and then get bored. There is probably an element of giving up when it gets hard too. I want to overcome this tendency, but how do I settle on one thing and stick to it? I’ve made some important changes in my life over the years and managed to stick to them after finding the right way for me, so I keep thinking if I find the ‘right’ thing it’ll stick. But maybe I’m waiting for an epiphany that will never come!

If you’ve been in a similar situation, how did you move forward? What helped you choose a direction, and we’re you ultimately happy with it?

Could you afford a session with a Life Coach? I felt this helped at the time. The new venture didn't work out for a few reasons, but if I could afford it, I'd probably go again. Makes you think about your core values and stuff, and think in a new way.

I'm ready to get back out there again, but it's a rubbish time to do it. I think I'll need some retraining, but may be able to do it on the internet, or at least start on it until these things go face to face again.

Hmm, if I’m honest I’m a little suspicious of life coaches. Aren’t most of them just self-styled serial MLM-ers looking for another income stream? Maybe not all, but I wouldn’t know where to start finding somebody suitable. How expensive was it? There is a little wiggle room in the budget, but probably out of reach if it’s very expensive.

You’re right, it is a rubbish time for it. What are you thinking of retraining in, if you don’t mind me asking?

I think I paid about 30 quid an hour, about 10 yrs ago? It was useful, and I only had a couple of sessions, as I felt I'd got as much as I could from it, but it was useful. But this was midlands, so not sure about your prices. I'm quite good at computers, but would need qualifications, so that's a thought. Other thing is I could do the modern equivalent of TEFL, teaching English, as it can be done via Zoom. Just before lockdown, someone was telling me about it, whilst swimming at the gym. I've taught adults before, so I suppose it doesn't feel so much of a leap. I think she mentioned about 1,000 to train to the qualification, but I could possibly invest this, once I have investigated how much take up there is for it (independently. Not from the training school! )

To clarify. I probably got as much from it as I could, at the time. Realistically, in a global pandemic, you would have to match idea career possibly working round kids with global pandemic which is fairly exacting. So if I'm going to go for retraining, I probably wouldn't invest again at this stage. If it all went tits up I might reconsider. Interestingly, the life coach, who was recommended to me by two people who had found it really helpful, combined it with running a fabulous boutique type guest house, where she baked her own bread, made jam for the guests and they loved it. She seemed to have her own work-life balance sorted, and I yearn for her house every time I go past it!

@FrancineSmith

Hmm, if I’m honest I’m a little suspicious of life coaches. Aren’t most of them just self-styled serial MLM-ers looking for another income stream? Maybe not all, but I wouldn’t know where to start finding somebody suitable. How expensive was it? There is a little wiggle room in the budget, but probably out of reach if it’s very expensive.

You’re right, it is a rubbish time for it. What are you thinking of retraining in, if you don’t mind me asking?

I’m an independent career coach, specialising in supporting people to make a career change. I offer an hour’s free coaching via zoom to anyone who fancies it - no obligation to book a paid session if you don’t want to.

If it helps set your mind at ease, I did coaching in a corporate environment for seven years before setting up for myself - before that I worked in corporate talent management, basically running development schemes for managers - so definitely not an MLM type person 😀

PM me if you’d like to discuss further. I’m happy to answer any questions you might have 😀