9 to 5 Happiness
I was at football practice a couple months ago, and a little girl (one of the coaches daughters’) asked me what I did for my real job. Apparently I just hang around high school football players for fun. I laughed and responded with, “this is my real job!” It takes a heck of a lot to a convince a 3-year old and she still wasn’t buying it. In the mind of a toddler, in order to qualify for a “real job” you must work on a computer, at a desk and during the day. Oh—but I do, sweet little child, that’s just on top of everything else. There's a lot that goes on behind the scenes in the athletic training world.
By now, If you have read other posts, you have learned that I am an athletic trainer; a health care professional, in a non-traditional role, working in a unique setting—a high school. Gosh that was a mouthful. What does this mean exactly? Well, it means that I have a weird schedule and don't spend much time behind a desk. It also means that I have no idea what you weirdos do from 9 to 5 every day. More specifically, it means that I don’t have a clue what a “normal” job or “normal” hours entails. I don’t fit that mold, at least I never have. I'd be lying if I said I was never envious of it, especially on my tough days.
Before I go any further I need to address something—If you are reading this and have your heart set on being an AT, let me fill you in on a secret—you are signing yourself up to be available 24/7. This is not a joke. That’s taking 9 to 5 to the next level. It’s not necessarily a bad thing. You’ll know exactly what I’m talking about when the time comes. But onward—
Many times, especially when I feel overwhelmed with injuries and responsibilities, or under appreciated, I think to myself, “Would I be happier working a normal job?” What even is a normal job? To me—being an AT is normal. To the rest of the world, it’s crazy. “Who would want to work those crazy hours and ridiculous schedule?” I suppose a crazy person. I’ve been doing it for over a decade. The crazy has wore off by now. It's just routine.
Although, I sometimes wallow in my envy of having a normal work schedule, I’ve turned down multiple 9 to 5 opportunities over the years. Why? It would be a chance for a regular, normal life. A schedule that would free up my evenings, weekends and even holidays. Sounds enticing, right? Maybe I just secretly enjoy shoving a clif bar in my face at 8pm and calling it dinner? Or better yet—maybe I just like the built in excuse for missing EVERY single life event with friends and family? "I can't. I have to work" is my most used phrase for the past 10 years! But it's true.
There are those rare occasions, and I mean rare, for which no human is in immediate need of my attention and I can eat dinner at a reasonable hour—at home. Or grab a beer with a friend one evening, every 3 months or so. I celebrate those days because they are few and far between! This just means that my teams are playing away and there are no practices scheduled. #WINNING!
Most everyone I know works the standard schedule—wake up, go to work sometime in the morning and get home in the early evening, in time to prepare dinner and spend quality moments with loved ones as the day winds down. Sit around the table and swap stories from the day. Sounds so lovely, doesn't it? Let's be real—this is so far from the truth! It's more like come home from work exhausted. No energy to cook. Order takeout and then pop a squat in front of the boob tube while scarfing down, lukewarm dinner. There are no family interactions or quality moments. The reality—anyone age 3 and up has a device glued to their face, feeding the technology and social media addiction, that has its vice grip on us. Maybe this seems like crazy talk, or maybe it's our sad reality.
What I'm getting at, is that working a 9 to 5 does not create a happy or better life. It's just a different life. Having evenings and weekends and holidays free, does not equal happiness. Working in general makes an individual tired and exhausted, especially after an 8+ hour shift. If you're not tired when you get home from work, I question your effort. It doesn't matter the time of day for which this takes place. Those working second shift and the graveyard shift are exhausted too.
Although I try to convince myself that a 9 to 5 would be the greatest thing ever, I don't think happiness comes from a work schedule. Some of the unhappiest and most miserable people I know, have the most relaxed schedule and make a shit ton of money. So money doesn't buy happiness after all? And neither does a flexible schedule. That's weird. I don't have that problem on either front.
While I'm not immune to developing bad habits during my time away from work, just as everyone else, it seems as though there is some benefit to having an odd schedule. It forces me to get chores done and errands run because that's the only time I have. So while all you "normal" folks are taking a lunch break, I'm out grocery shopping or scrubbing my floors. I can also tell you when I get home at 10 or 11 at night, sometimes later, I'm marching my ass straight to bed. Maybe there is some good that comes out of working an unconventional schedule. I guess I could come home and veg out and watch Netflix until the wee hours of the morning, but I like my sleep too much.
The downside to my schedule—not seeing Nick as much. Because like all of you, he works normal hours. Most nights, he's already sleeping when I get home and out the door in the mornings before I wake up; pre-COVID obviously. So I have to eat my gourmet clif bar dinner by myself in the high school gym. Gross! Those are the times that I remind myself that I'm in the worst profession ever. The upside—we've almost made it to a decade of wedded bliss! You know the saying, "absence makes the heart grow fonder". Maybe there is something to that? Or maybe we have just learned to adapt and accept our circumstances for what they are and strive to make them the best possible.
Regardless of your work schedule, happiness comes from within. We get to decide how we are going to live our lives. If you hate what you do from 9 to 5, or from 2-10, it will spill over into the rest of your time. I've learned to stop convincing myself that I would be happier working a normal shift or another job. It has nothing to do with time of day but everything to do with maximizing each moment, regardless of what's going on. It doesn't matter if I'm working, spending time with Nick, or cleaning the house—how I approach each of those moments, is what determines my happiness.
We all have bad days. That's completely normal. It happens. It's called life. But if we keep having them each and every day—that's a problem and we need to figure out the cause. Happiness doesn't come from a job or profession. Happiness doesn't come from a time stamp! Happiness is a choice we make each and every day. Don't let your schedule dictate your attitude and mindset. Although it appears promising to the outsider, it may not actually be 9 to 5 happiness that we’re seeking.