Saturday, March 15, 2008

So this is what it feels like to be a grown up

Through my teenage years and my college experience, I valued sleep probably more than I should have. I could sleep for hours and hours and not wake up until something or someone was loud and obnoxious enough to do so. Trust me, this was no easy feat. My family used to joke about how impossible it is to "wake the beast".

However, a graduation, three internships and a fiance in Singapore later...I now wake up everyday before 9 am, like it or not. I mean, I physically cannot sleep in anymore. Even when I was on Singapore time and Aaron would have left for work, I got right out of bed usually right after he left. I've become this mutation of the girl I used to be.

Perhaps the most disappointing part is my new bedtime. I used to think that my day or night didn't begin until 11 pm. Now, I pray that I make it to bed way before that. I actually get excited to go to bed at a decent hour. It's so nice to wake up for work feeling refreshed from 8 hours of sleep as opposed to 3 or 4 hours on someone's couch.

I do try to "treat" myself on weekends. Occasionally, I'll stay up late talking to Aaron and I fight my urge to sleep because it's so nice not being limited to our usual half hour conversations. Yet, you better believe I take a nap to make up for our 3 am phone calls. The time difference sucks big time.

But the most amazing part of this whole thing is: You can get a hell of a lot of stuff done before noon! I'm amazed at how productive I've become when I wake up when grown-ups do. Places seem to stay open for hours when you live on real world time.

So all in all, my youth may be slowly slipping away, but at least I'm getting my to-do list checked off.

3 comments:

Cori said...

Oh. My. Gosh. We ARE the same person. But I think I'm cooler than you, because I had to give birth before going through the metamorphosis. If you ever start feeling smug about your newfound productivity, drop in on Grandma by 9am. She will have showered, dressed, cooked, clean, done laundry, and finished her ironing. Kind of puts you in your place. :)

Megan said...

OK so it sooo doesn't count because you worked nights at the hospital at my age. You only had the illusion of being cool and sleeping all day. No kudos to you my friend. :) Oh and I think I know someone who could even top Grandma. Take a guess.

Cori said...

I guessed who, don't worry. And I worked nights BECAUSE I was cool. There were days jobs open, but they were for morning people. Like you. :)