How do you know if your ready to work again

I've not worked for a long time and I'm afraid I'm not competant anymore or socially able.

They are skills we learn and can become rusty, like riding a bicycle :-) and we can try again and get good at them again and add to the skills/competencies. The only way you can know if you are ready is to give it a try and see. Only you can know how you feel and see/care how you do (someone else may not like how you work at something and "fire" you or lay you off but that is their opinion/life not yours).

Perna is absolutely right. Our skills may become rusty, but we'll never lose them.

How do we know if we're ready again? Well, are you bored with staying home? Do you wish you could get back into the work-force again? Would you feel better about yourself if you were bringing home a paycheck? Is your self-esteem taking a "hit" by not working? Is your health at a place where you are ABLE to work again?

Ask yourself these questions -- then YOU can decide if you're ready. I would go back to work again in a heartbeat if I was physically able, but I'm not. My spine totally fell apart.

I wish you the VERY best. Let us know if you go back to work, and what kind of job you found, okay? I'd REALLY like to know! God bless and BEST of lucik! Hugs, Lee

You might consider volunteer work for a cause that has special meaning to you. This activity will be a measure of how well you are able to get into the groove of being somewhere, doing assigned tasks and interacting with others. Good Luck

That's just what I was going to suggest! I am attempting to do the same, who knew ppl wanting free workers would be so picky though? I'm sure not everyone is like that, I live in a somewhat small town. Good luck!

I guess it has all been said! Good Luck!! And, don't let initial anxiety and feeling a kind of clumsiness stop you, I've worked my whole life, many jobs (that is how I handle my MH issues, as things start in I change jobs...really too old for that now but I just started another, and I have been doing the same thing for nearly 40ys. Guess what, I am going through the initial feeling awkward, wondering if I still can do it....
(I made a rule for myself at 19 when I was coming undone that I would go to work no matter what....at times it was Crazy----but, it worked-----I've never taken a sick day for physical reasons, but a mental health day placed well is essential, sometimes two)

I have been in that position before and you just have to jump back in, with clearly defined goals in mind. Like Leed said, you have to consider what your reasons are for going back into the world of work. When you come up with those reasons, keep them in mind while you are working so that when the going gets tough, you will have a reason to keep going and not run.