Is work-life balance even possible when you're in your 20s and just starting your career? I'm seriously starting to doubt it.
Before I started my NYSC, I thought having a 9-5 job wouldn't be that different from my uni life, or at least, I wouldn’t allow it to be. I was so wrong. My days now consist of getting up early, putting on an outfit (one of my favourite perks of my job), and heading into the office to stay for 7 hours. By the time I get home, I'm absolutely drained, both mentally and physically.
In school, my time was my own. I mean, I had classes, homework, and extracurriculars, but I could pretty much set my schedule. Now, with a sort of rigid schedule, I feel like I have no free time left for all the hobbies and side projects I used to enjoy.
I used to spend hours crocheting, reading, watching YouTube videos and filming/editing videos for my YouTube channel. But after working all day, the last thing I want to do is stare at another screen to edit videos. And finding the energy to crochet often feels like a struggle when I'm already so tired from working all day.
I'm also trying to level up my skills by taking online courses and getting certifications. But again, who has the mental bandwidth for that after work? By the time the workday is done, my brain already feels fried.
Let's not even talk about maintaining a social life. The days of impromptu gatherings with friends seem to be gone. These days, I have to plan my visits/hangouts weeks in advance to make sure there are no issues. The idea of making plans for after work during the week is laughable - I'm way too depleted by that point.
Don't get me wrong, I do actually enjoy my internship and the work I'm doing. It's a great experience and it's hopefully helping me get closer to understanding the necessary steps for my career. But being a full-time worker is holding me way more than I expected.
Maybe I'll get used to it over time and figure out how to start balancing everything again. But for now, working for the paycheck while pushing my passions to the side is a harsh wake-up call about being an adult. I miss the days when I could just crochet, create YouTube videos, and see friends on my schedule without a never-ending to-do list from my line manager looming over me.
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