u/Capital-Sorbet652

I am 23 years old. For the last year or so, I have been getting up for work between 1-3 in the morning. Doing so means Ive gone to sleep around 8pm or so.

Within the last week I have noticed a shift. I’m still getting the same amount of sleep. Getting up at the same time. However, my body has decided it will tolerate this no longer. Alarms are being missed. I’m dragging at work. I get home and I’m absolutely exhausted.

Coincidently my girlfriend has just turned 24. She’s experienced something similar recently. She’s had to go out and purchase an expensive memory foam pillow, as the ones she’s used in the past are no longer good enough. She began to wake up with aches and sores in her neck.

I can’t help but look back to the good old days. Where 2 hours of sleep and an energy drink would carry me through the day. As I continue to age, I fear a reoccurring question pops up in my head…am I unc?

This has been my first reminder that my body and mind will age. And will continue to age. I won’t always feel like I’m 18 and invincible. My body will continue to slow down and this is only the very very beginning.

I’m currently a home daily driver. I go into work between 2 to 4 am and drive roughly 4 to 5 hours one way and come back. In total I drive between 400 to 600 miles a day. I do this 5 or 6 days a week. My routes can vary daily. My shifts typically come out to be around 10.5 to 12 hours a day. I make good money in the summer, and not so good money in the winter. The account is paid per mile. I drive 30 minutes to work and about 50 minutes home. If I leave the house at 2 I can typically expect to be home around 2 to 3pm.

A driver i used to work with recently told me about an opportunity at our company. It would put me closer to work, with guaranteed Saturdays and Sundays off. It pays a steady per day rate just shy of $300. Which would make my paycheck consistent. Right now at my current job I’d make more than that some weeks, but less than that other weeks.

The only catch? It’s a box truck. I’d have to make 3 to 5 stops and unload it with a lift gate and pallet jack. If I took this job, I’d have a set schedule. Start my day at the same time. Goto the same places. End it at the same time. Supposedly according to the driver it’s 8 to 9 hours of work a day. Start early in the mornings and be home by noon to one.

I’m seriously considering taking this position. I think it would be better for my home life and give me more time off. But I’m worried that not driving a tractor-trailer will make the job not so fun for me. As my girlfriend pointed out however, maybe it’s not fun for me anymore now.

Has anyone else been in this position? What else should I consider? Right now I am basically ready to accept this job; albeit I’m scared.