🚨 Advance warning 🚨 This forum will be closing on 1st May – please see our pinned thread for more information.
Help and ideas needed
Hoping that the lovely biddies can help with a dilemma that's cropped up.
Been off work 2 weeks with RSI. Saw an independant occupational health person at work today, Upshot is basically I'm screwed in the long term
. In her words 'You're far too young to have RSI this badly and make it through another 30+ years of work'. So I'm in a situation where I need to consider changing career, as in the end, I'm going to get to the situation where I will probably lose my job as I won't be able to do it! My right hand is pretty screwed already and angled (IYSWIM) from the problems, it's only going to get worse as the years go on.
So I need help - what jobs/careers are there that don't involve full time computer work (probably a max of 50% would be best) and offer the option of earning (or at least getting to the stage of earning) a reasonably good wage.
So far, after 2 weeks of thinking,the only option we've come up with teaching. Problem is I hated teaching last time when I tried a pgce (music specialist) and really not sure that my heart's in teaching - even if it's primary or ICT secondary.
Hoping that we can sort a cut in hours longer term with dropping down to 3 days which will help, but is still going to cause problems in the end.
Struggling even to come up with 'top up' income ideas as there are already a lot of nappy sellers, baby class teachers of various sorts, osborne book sellers, avon/body shop etc around, so options for taking a role like that will be very limiting, especially as i don't have a big friend base to help draw on. music instrumental teaching isn't good either as I'm likely to have problems there too (as has happened in the past).
Any ideas would be gratefully received, even if it just sparks a fresh idea in my mind.
Thanks ladies.
Been off work 2 weeks with RSI. Saw an independant occupational health person at work today, Upshot is basically I'm screwed in the long term
. In her words 'You're far too young to have RSI this badly and make it through another 30+ years of work'. So I'm in a situation where I need to consider changing career, as in the end, I'm going to get to the situation where I will probably lose my job as I won't be able to do it! My right hand is pretty screwed already and angled (IYSWIM) from the problems, it's only going to get worse as the years go on. So I need help - what jobs/careers are there that don't involve full time computer work (probably a max of 50% would be best) and offer the option of earning (or at least getting to the stage of earning) a reasonably good wage.
So far, after 2 weeks of thinking,the only option we've come up with teaching. Problem is I hated teaching last time when I tried a pgce (music specialist) and really not sure that my heart's in teaching - even if it's primary or ICT secondary.
Hoping that we can sort a cut in hours longer term with dropping down to 3 days which will help, but is still going to cause problems in the end.
Struggling even to come up with 'top up' income ideas as there are already a lot of nappy sellers, baby class teachers of various sorts, osborne book sellers, avon/body shop etc around, so options for taking a role like that will be very limiting, especially as i don't have a big friend base to help draw on. music instrumental teaching isn't good either as I'm likely to have problems there too (as has happened in the past).
Any ideas would be gratefully received, even if it just sparks a fresh idea in my mind.
Thanks ladies.
0
Replies
H xx
What is it that didn't do it for you with teaching? Was it the kids? Could always consider 6th form only or adults if so?
I'm sorry to hear you have this stress hanging over you! Does it hurt?
Dropping your days sounds like it might work for now. Hopefully that will give you time to research other options. Will let you know if I come up with any bright ideas this end! x
Would you consider being a driving instructor? There's an element of teaching there that your pgce might help with?
H - hated what I was having to teach. Getting yr 9's to play zombie nation so they had 'performed' and got to hear/learn a bit about ground bass just wasn't my cup of tea. I didn't mind learning and incorporating modern music, but the way it was enforced, and the curriculum as a whole rather got to me as not being the sort of music I wanted to teach. Also hated the kids that deliberately destroyed keyboards in front of teachers (and student teachers) and the lack of action that was expected.
It is painful. Ciaran has had to get used to the fact that I can't even pick him up (unless it's absolutely necessary) as it causes a lot of discomfort and pain. I've had my mum up this week to help as otherwise we're basically confined to the house as I can't push a pram around, or drive long distances.
It's not nice thinking that within 30 years I am likely to be crippled and not have use of my right hand if I continue to have problems even half as frequently as they are currently happening, with potentially my left not being far behind.
sorry to hear about your pain and discomfort. must be so hard not picking up c. lucky he's walking and not like theo still prefering to be carried!
i'm prob not gonna come up with anything you haven't thought of, and i'm not sure what triggers/makes your rsi worse so not sure if these are possible - but what about a private music teacher?
hope you feel better soon x
Been back at work 3 days and having new problems with a diffferent tendon on the left hand from turning pages!!!!! I can't win at the moment and running out of options fast.
Oh the joys. Back at the drs tonight to request physio - just hoping he doesn't say the 4hrs aren't working and I have to stay off again. SSP is even worse than SMP!!!!!!
Time to buy a lottery ticket I think.
only other thing i can think of is music examiner? you know when people go to take their grades? doesn't require demonstration as you are just listening to them play but can still motivate and encourage?
other than that i'd say just keep an eye on the jobs pages and see what takes you fancy. i have always been in education since graduating (2 years teaching english in japan on the jet programme, then 2 years in london as a learning mentor in a secondary school, then moved home to liverpool and worked as a student adviser in a college til went off sick pregnant with theo) when the wouldn't let me job share or reduce my hours signifiantly enough i didn't have a clue what i was going to do. then i saw the event co-ordinator job advertised. i'd never worked in that field (although i'd done a lot of fund raising and charity stuff in my spare time) but i got the job and i really enjoy it. i would never have thought that would come up or i would get it so you may be surprised by what takes your fancy when you start looking around - it might not even be a career you have even thought off.
good luck with it all k x
The other girls have come up with some good suggestions so far, and i can't think of anything off the top of my head to better them.
I have the start of arthritis in my hands due to my severe psoriasis, so quite scared at the prospect of not being able to do computer based work when the time comes that they cause me pain enough to stop the enjoyment of my job/hobbies. I can't think that far ahead for now, too many other things happening in our household!
Did you get a physio referral from your GP? x
sorry to hear about this....must be awfiul not being able to pick C up or push the pram =/ bless you and then the added stress of thinking of a new career you poor thing you!
Well there have been great suggestions so far and maybe looking to see what you fancy cant hurt....what about being a music therapist working with special needs/children you dont have a curriculum enforced then and you wouldnt have to do a lot of playing i dont think.....alternatively look at a small group for mums and babies learning and playing with music1 I take the girls to a local group called mysic makers in our village hall 2 hours on a friday and they have lil keyboards some that the keys light up on, marracas, drums and tamborines and they sing like nursery rhymes with the instruments or tell stories using the instruments for sound effects IE: they heard a crash (they shake a maracca) they made a band (hit the drum) horn(keyboard) etc.....its for kids 18mnth to 4 years parents have to sit woth their child/children we pay ??2 per child 50p per adult thge kids get juice and a busicuit in the middle of the class and play with the toys in the hall and a good time had by all