What is the best way to choose a career after being away from workforce for 8 years?

Hello!

Thank you for your question. Congratulations on your career change! I imagine it can be intimidating to be facing these decisions and it's understandable that you are feeling uncertain about what direction to go. I am not sure that I can advise a single best way to approach this, but I can offer a few things to consider.

First, it might be helpful to consider whether being stuck is helping you in some way. While feeling stuck can be a natural consequence of mixed feelings or being able to see pros and cons to many options, sometimes feeling stuck serves some other function. For example, if we're feeling afraid about moving forward, being stuck keeps us from having to go anywhere. If we're doubting our abilities to take the next step, being stuck prevents us from having to test them. If there is a lot to enjoy about our current location, being stuck protects us from a change of venue. Greater understanding of your "stuckness" may help you to identify what you need to move forward.

Second, I think it is useful to consider what you want out of employment. This might seem like an obvious one, but sometimes it isn't so straightforward. Is there a particular amount of pay you're looking for? Is pay enough, or are you looking for more in a job? Is it important to you that your work reflect any particular values or that you serve a certain part of the community? Is your role in a team important to you? Are you looking for further professional development or to build on the skills you have already? What kind of work environment helps you succeed? Considering these questions may help narrow down your options.

Third, you say you are having difficulty with commitment. Certainly attention deficits and hyperactivity can contribute to this. What do you need to keep you interested and motivated? If you aren't sure, do you have to "commit" to a specific role to find work? Could freelancing or short-term contracting be an option for you? It might help to take a closer look at what is wrapped up for you in the idea of "commitment" - what do you fear you will lose? How might you be able to mitigate those losses?

Finally, you mention that you are considering being tested for ADHD. The ASRS (https://add.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/adhd-questionnaire-ASRS111.pdf) is a useful screening tool for ADHD which might be helpful for discussing with a medical or mental health provider. It might also be helpful to jot down and discuss some of the things you are noticing which seem to be bothering you or interfering with your day-to-day life. If you are diagnosed, you may wish to consider discussing with future employers how this impacts your working style and whether reasonable accommodations will help you in your work. 

Thank you again for your question. Good luck!

Kate