What I have noticed since getting a new job
To clarify: I have never had a full-time job, have never had a desk job, have never had this type of job before.
I thought it would be a struggle to change my sleep-wake habits to get up before 9:30 AM but I have found that I am so tired after working eight hours at the one job and doing other necessary things afterwards that I am so tired by 10:30 PM that I go to bed before midnight.
My body must sense something I do not because I hardly ever wake to my alarm but instead wake up 30 minutes - one hour before it goes off. Perhaps I don't need as much sleep as I used to or I'm getting better, deeper sleep. Or I am so paranoid of being late that my body senses this anxiety and wakes me up in rather plenty of time to get ready.
I have already known this but I am less groggy in the morning when I have a purpose (such as getting to work by 8:30).
My eating habits are starting to suffer. Don't tell my parents, but I ate a bagel and ice cream for dinner last night.... This should be easy to get a handle on because all I have to do is be prepared for making food, such as curbing myself from snacking right before eating and ruining my appetite.
Ego Depletion. Staying focused at work takes almost all of my concentration and depletes my ego entirely so that when I get home all I want to do is garden and watch movies. Unless I have something important pending, like taking care of business, phone calls, or job #2 I don't have the heart to do anything for the rest of the night. The real loser in this situation is my writing. I don't feel like it. Perhaps it is because writing is a never-ending project and I prefer to work on something I can complete, like a lesson in my web development class, a poster for farmer's market, or that engineering project I can do.
Am I an adult now?
When can I retire?
It's funny that you mention ego depletion. First off, that is an excellent word choice to describe the concept of using up all your energy at the workplace leaving none for a fulfilling life outside of work. One suggestion might be to pace yourself. Don't jeopardize your job, or consistently fall below your personal standards, but at the same time, don't let it consume you, and allow yourself to save some ego for non-day-job-related activities as well. Even if one is in love with a career job, it is still healthy to allow yourself to have focus and energy in other parts of your life and identity.
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