I never really "got" what people were meaning when they would sigh "the weekend just isn't long enough". I guess my jobs before this latest one never generated that level of stress, so I didn't spend so much energy a) not trying to think about work when I was off, & b) coming home every night too tired to do more than swallow a few bites of food before collapsing into bed.
I have mostly been a happy go lucky person. Naturally curious, I would often try to see all sides of why friends and family could be so exhausted. I would try to stay upbeat and positive, create comfort zones so they would have refuge to truly rest and decompress when they had time away from work. When they needed or wanted it, I would try to objectively help figure out ways to alleviate stress and work woes if I could. Because my jobs didn't require a whole lot of brain power I could "leave at 5pm" or at least I never had to worry about taking work home with me. I was rarely tethered to my job. I never made big decisions about work. I didn't have to attend endless, pointless meetings; I didn't have to stress about retaining clients and bending over backwards to keep people happy.
This was great because I could work out early in the morning, or stay up late browsing Facebook. I could travel. I could go to events in the city on a week night, or be present at events on the weekend. I knew all kinds of things happening in my friend's lives, and I could be available if they needed me.
As of February I became an associate client manager and my entire life turned upside down. No matter how early I got to work or how late I stay there isn't enough time in the day. I have been working 6 and 7 days. I have constant headaches, my positive outlook is waning; my weight is the highest it has ever been. I feel chained to my desk. I can feel my cortisol levels on constant high because of stress. I never feel like I am "off". I was never good at sleeping but now I am more tired than ever.
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