Go get a job already!!

[journeymom]

There are so many helpful posts all over MDC. Including the ones saying to turn off the computer! I've learned a lot from you ladies.

I'm making progress. I'm learning about myself. I've been in a lot of pain lately. Feeling very:

inept, fat, slow, dumb, spacey, grumpy, mean, lazy. Feeling very, very sad.

Someone on another thread suggested the Franklin Covey do it yourself mission statement. I went through it and one step had me describe three people I admire, and what I admire about them. Turns out all three of them are cheerful, enthusiastic, hard working and talented. All three struggle with serious problems and just keep chugging along.

I've been very depressed for, oh gosh, maybe 8 years now. Good medication kept me from dire consequences. Three years ago I started therapy and I've been working very hard at being mindful. Just being aware of what I do, without judgment. This is soooo helpful. I suspect it's pretty common to go through life not being very aware at all that we do things (think things) a certain way, much less understand why we do them.

Let's just pretend that we're not in this horrible job market. I need to go back to work. We really need the money. I've been a sahm for 12 years now. I'm sooo bored. I've only discovered recently just how much boredom is making me depressed. Two motivations, pretty much equally important.

But I don't have a college degree. I don't have specific training in anything. I've got a 12 year gap in my work history. I would like to lose weight before I start applying for jobs, but this weight still hasn't lost itself, much as I wish it would. I'm over 40 y.o. and I'm just plain scared.

So that's where I am. I'm whittling away at my excuses.

[lapis]

what did you do before having kids (and did you like it?) and what do you enjoy thinking/talking/reading about? I know that's not an easy question but just something to maybe get your thoughts rolling....

I am sort of in/will be in similar circumstances. Currently I'm in another country (hard for me to work here without a college degree) with my dh's work and have mostly been a nanny or pp doula or worked retail until we moved here six months ago. I'm in my late twenties and we are ttc and I know once we do have a baby I will be the stay at home parent. I'm aware that I will and do want a work life for myself... that yes, it will keep my mental health in order and keep my mind feeling fresh and bring in $$ but I also know that I really want to stay home for the first five years or so... maybe with some small side/home jobs but mostly being here. It is however, kind of daunting to think of going back into the workforce after so many years away. I've thought that one thing I might do is finally go to school but that is also a daunting (and expensive) project....

Anyhow, I can commiserate with your struggle and am wishing you good luck....

and

[laughingfox]

Have you looked into temping? I've done a lot of it, and honestly, you're usually given zero benefits and you never really know what a job is like or when it will end (no matter what the agency says, there are always a lot of in-the-air variables), but it is a good way to get something on your resume. Also, with temping, if you don't like a job, you can get back out of it fairly quickly and painlessly.
I don't have college degree or specific training, but temp agencies don't usually require much. That's the only way I could get a job after my employment gaps.
Good luck!

[journeymom]

Laughingfox, I'll be starting with a temp agency! Good idea.

[oceane]

maybe you could see if there is any type of volunteer work that you'd like to do? You could surely do that starting soon, and it will help you not be so bored right now, it might structure your week a bit and it might even help with getting a job a bit later! I think that volunteer work is also work and I would put it on my application. Plus you get to really choose what you'd like to do right now.

[journeymom]

You're right, I keep forgetting about that. Volunteering definitely counts on a resume and it would get me out.