Second Career or Just Retire?

Talking to my friends, I think this is a common midlife issue. You spend most of your life in one career and now you would love to transition into doing something else, but how? How do you start a second career without investing a lot of money and time in going back to school? This is something I am grappling with. I have had a really good career in sales. I can't complain but I would like to pivot. Here are some options for making a career change:

1. I can quit my job and go back to school.

2. I can look for an online program.

3. I can self learn as much as possible through online and books.

4. I can request a special project at work that would give me experience in the direction I want to move.

5. I can rewrite my resume to focus on my transferable skills to get into a new line of work.

I have chosen to ask for a special project at work while also learning as much as possible through online courses, reading books and getting a mentor. I am excited about where this path may lead.

Also, for my comics about changing careers, be sure to checkout my Instagram page.

Covid

So I recently tested positive for covid. It is the first and hopefully last time I get it. Luckily it has only been like a bad cold for me. I had a very sore throat, sinus gunk and sneezing. I did not run a fever, lose my sense of smell or taste. The hardest part for me has been the quarantining. I forgot what is was like to be "stuck" at home. I am not only stuck at home but I am isolating from my family. I definitely do not want them to catch this. So, it's been pretty lonely.

I am doing my best to focus on the positives and there are many. Here are a few things I am grateful for:

• It's only been like a bad cold for me.

• The weather has been really nice. I am able to keep the windows and doors open so that the house airs out.

• While I am resting, I am catching up on my phone calls.

• I've had several friends reach out and ask me how I am doing.

• I have plenty of time on the weekend to draw since I am not doing laundry or grocery shopping.

• I have plenty of time in the evenings since I am not making dinner. My husband and son are in charge of dinner (other son is out of the country). Yes, we have had takeout a few times already. Ha!

• I have gotten a lot of work done because of the extra time.

• I have had a lot of time to just think. It's made me realize that I am going to need a good plan for retirement. Although it's not anytime soon, it got me thinking because there are many times I fantasize about retirement and having "nothing" to do. What I learned is that I cannot just take each day as it comes. I need a plan. I will go stir crazy. It turns out that I actually like to be busy.

So while I still have a few more days of "quarantining", I will try to put my time to good use. When I am in the clear, I plan to embrace all of the things I took for granted, like going to the grocery store.

Until then,..

Mood Follows Action: put to the test

I have been in a slump recently. I am not sure where it is coming from but I am down. I find it hard to get excited about much. This week I am intentionally trying to pull myself out of this slump. As Rich Roll says "mood follows action." So I am going to be about the action this week. Here are three things that I am going to do this week that are supposed to help:

1. Exercise: moving the body releases chemicals in the brain that naturally makes you feel good. I picked out the gym classes I want to attend this coming week and put them on my schedule. It's important to actually schedule your exercises. If you just stick with a general goal of working out three times this week without scheduling it, you will probably get to the end of the week without hitting your goal. So schedule it.

2. Be Present: I plan to learn about breath work and try one session this week. I meditate everyday but have never really dived into breath work specifically. I think this could help me be fully present.

3. Partake in a hobby: I am learning to play the ukulele and piano. My goal this week is to practice everyday for a minimum of 10 minutes.

So that's it. Those are the three things that I am making room for in my schedule this week. I will check in at the end of the week to let you know how it goes.

Have a wonderful week.

-Vic

Update: Exercise and practicing the ukulele has helped my mood somewhat but I am still struggling a bit. I have to admit that I did not do any research on breath work. I will do that this week.