with Natalie caine

July 15, 2009 | by Natalie Caine | No Comments

I think the place people get stuck the most in finding “What’s Next,”  is saying they don’t know what to do.

I for sure can relate to that response.  Key is to say it and keep going.  “I don’t know what I want to do and I will try……”  You get to go and try something and if it isn’t a match for you, let it go.  That doesn’t mean go on an interview and say yes to a job and then quit.  It means explore.

Five ideas

1. Make an appointment to visit a job site you are interested in pursuing. Call ahead and ask if you could have ten minutes to learn from the manager, the assistant, etc. what a day in the life involves.

2. Make a list of what activities you repeat during a week:  Shopping, gardening, talking to friends, researching online, connecting with forums, hiking, cooking, museums, reading, organizing, exercising, and teaching.  See what ideas come from that review as far as what you seem to like to do.

3. Ask your friends what they think your strengths are and what you seem to enjoy doing.  You can send a written note to them with a return envelop in it. You can have a small group over to support you and gift them with music and food.  You can email or call them.  Just do it. They won’t mind your asking for help.  You would do it for them!

4. Journaling:  Write what you are thinking and feeling. Give yourself fifteen minutes to write without being interrupted or stopping.  Clues will be there. Write about someone you know who has a volunteer job, or career that you admire, “I just love that Cary is a fund raiser. She is helping others, meeting new people, and making good enough money. She seems so happy and still has time for herself.”  “Maybe I could……..”

5. Make cold calls when you research some of your interests and ask for help, “I am thinking of blogging, but I want to know the down side of it and the cost. Could you help me sometime this week? If not, do you know someone I could call?”

It is normal to change your mind, not know what you want to do next, feel stuck.  Post on the free message board, www.emptynestsupport.com that you need some ideas.  We are building a community so that no one has to go through this major life transition alone. There are wonderful, wise people posting there that are on the same journey as you. Why not get support?

Take care,
Natalie
natalie@emptynestsupport.com
800-446-3310