How do I know if I'm ready to start working again?

I haven't worked in 3 years. I would like to look for a low key part time job. My long term goal is to eventually make good money in a career. I have no idea how I will be in terms of showing up though. That's my biggest issue. I'm very functional in most other ways though. Ive been on disability for a while. I do wonder if it's holding me back. My Psych nurse thinks I should start looking for a job. I would like to, I just don't have much confidence in myself to show up. I'm kind of an emotional person. I can have distorted thoughts. I AM doing better, with showing up to things I say I'm going to do these days. But I could do so much better. I wonder if I could at least apply to some places. My other option, I think, is to make a daily schedule and stick to it like it's my job, and volunteer someplace regularly. And then reassess in like 3 months.

If I was needing or wanting to return to working, I think I would begin there. I would not force myself to comply with an inflexible schedule, but I would make an honest effort to be consistent and then begin working at overcoming my own objections, tardies and such along the way.

I jumped right into ft work after 9 years of being on disability due to ptsd. Still have the ptsd . I work in a fast paced environment . I love it!

I think I'm just nervous that if I start working, I will quit when I don't feel like going. I don't trust myself.

I'm on disability too and I go back and forth with wondering if I should attempt to find employment...but also have trouble commiting to anything or having the motivation to get ready in the a.m.

2nd shift worked good for me when I worked (because I didn't have to get up early to get to work..I'd get up at 10 and not have work till 2pm)..but sometimes it exasperated my hyperactivity because I was so psyched that not many people were around, I really enjoyed myself TOO much and made a lot of mistakes!

I hadn't worked for 7 years while I was staying home with my child, then I went back to work full time. It's been 2.5 weeks. I love it.

I held a couple of service commitments for 6 months before I jumped back into work, that helped.

I was on disability for 18 months and then went back to work at a very high-paced, demanding job. I have been back to work for 11 months now. It was hard at first, making sure I was on time and at work every day. Took my nearly 6 months to get back into the full swing of things, but now I'm completely back in the work mentality and barely remember being on disability. And I'm very happy to be working again. It helps keep me consistent and helps with my depression.

Starting at volunteering might help, but it may also be good just to jump back in. For me, I couldn't get into volunteering, I needed the pressure of the job to get me in line.

Good luck and believe in yourself.
seesaw