Return to work after 10+ year gap - action plan

[Smorgs]

I need to restart my career. I have not done paid work for almost 11 years and I am struggling to see a pathway back to a real career (I don't want a part time job that just covers some bills). Can anyone offer advice on how to create an action plan please?
My work history is as a newspaper journalist (with a couple of years in TV marketing to begin with) but we now live abroad so I need to consider what my realistic career options are.
I stopped work when our DS were born, shortly after our move abroad for DH's work. How do I explain this huge gap? I couldn't work in the local language and going freelance while the DC were tiny seemed impossible at the time. Then my DH had a mental health episode, the DC were both diagnosed with neuro-developmental disorders, then the pandemic, a bereavement, another mental health episode with DH... how on earth do I describe all that without sounding like either like a total flake or as someone with a lot of personal life drama going on?
I really have no idea what I want to do now. Newspaper journalism seems unrealistic from here and I spend a lot of time ruminating over what I should really be, ranging from: 'perhaps I should do an MA?', 'or even retrain as a doctor?', 'maybe I could WFH as a copywriter', 'perhaps I could write a novel' to 'I need to get into a corporate career with proper training, prospects and better pay than journalism'. I realise how ridiculous this all sounds. Where does one go nowadays to realistically narrow down the options and get proper advice on what I might be able to achieve in the real world?
TIA

What country are you in and do you plan to stay there?

Assess the back to work supports in your country of residence. If you are in Europe can you avail of EU subsidised springboard courses?

Don't explain the gap beyond parent ING and being the emotional support to wider family, don't get into the drama.

The usual route to return to paid work is:

1. Voluntary work, in a relevant sector, just to get you back into the correct mindset.
2. Maybe apply for some contract work, again just to get the foot in the door, and to emerse yourself in the working world for a limited and durable time frame.
3. Once you get working, decide if you need to reskill and how. Often you will receive some training while at work.

Just start, start at something and break the barrier of returning to paid work. You don't need to land the perfect job straight away.

Thank you so much for your replies and advice. I am in the EU and we are staying put for now, although we seem to ponder coming home fairly often.
What kind of EU subsidised springboard courses do you mean? That sounds interesting.
I think you are right that I just need to get any job within my skill set just to break back into the workplace.
I have seen something advertised this weekend and although I don't have all the skills required I'm going to apply anyway. It'll be good practice anyway.

Another question I have is about Linked In - is it essential to have a page on linked in nowadays? I admit I'm slightly self conscious to have my paltry CV online for anyone and everyone to see, but I've been advised to do it. Thoughts please?

Nooooo...

Google webscraping.

It's sensible to have a very limited LinkedIn profile, be discrete, the days of revealing your cv are over.