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Up until a week or so ago, anyone who knew me was well aware that I am not a morning person. The big dog needed his sleep, and when my alarm went off in the morning, it was arguably the worst part of my day. Instinctively I would reach for the snooze button in a last ditch effort to be well rested, even though science had told me repeatedly that all that does is ruin your body, mind, and sleep quality.
Recently though I’ve noticed a change – and it’s terrifying. Not only am I waking up a few minutes before my alarm, but when I do sleep until the alarm goes off, I get up almost immediately and without trouble. Some of you may be wondering why I’m complaining about this. I understand where you’re coming from. Waking up one day and being a morning person probably sounds like a dream come true for some of you, but instances like this rattle me to my very core.
I’ve seen the warning signs for a while. You don’t notice the changes day-to-day, but they compound over time until you look back over a few months and wonder what happened. Maybe it’s just me finally adjusting to the hours and doldrums of post-grad life now that I’m a few months in, but good God. Did it have to happen like this? I thought I had at least a few more years, or at least a few more months before I’d be turning into a semi-functioning adult. I’ve been ignoring the signs for too long, and now its staring me in the face. This is my life now, and I have to accept that.
Gone are the days of waking up at noon and guzzling beers with no concern for tomorrow, skipping class to hang out with friends, and having practically no responsibilities. The highlight of last week for me was when the rice cooker I ordered off Amazon was delivered, followed closely by receiving two new pairs of socks from my parents. The sloppy bar make-out session with the girl I’d met at the bar from the weekend? Couldn’t care less. I had fresh socks and a hassle-free way to cook my favorite cereal grain. It was at that moment that I took a long, hard look in the mirror and accepted the simple fact that I’m in the real world now.
For those of you in similar positions to me, fear not. There’s still time left to perpetuate the affable, often intoxicated, and reckless behavior that we’ve become used to. Based off what my older friends have told me and what I’ve seen from them, it looks like we’ve still got some time to act like we’re in college, except with “classes” we aren’t allowed to skip and deadlines we probably shouldn’t miss. I think we’re going to be okay.
As the monotonies of post-grad life drone on, just keep in mind that it’s not all bad. While you watch yourself turn into a fully-functioning adult, just remind yourself that you’re still in the prime of your life. Try not to grow up too fast. And every now and then live it up like you’re still in college. You’ve still got it, even if you don’t know it..
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Post Grad Brad
Recent post grad whose name is Brad. That pretty much sums it up. Email me at postgradbrad@gmail.com.
In a similar situation. Recently got a bonus, putting it towards a 7-day bender in Dublin later this year in a last-ditch effort to reclaim some essence of my youth.
That’s baller
Shenanigans will be had, sheleighleighs will be dipped.
Hey Cube-A-Saurus, what’s that restaurant you like with all the goofy shit on the walls?
You guys talking about Shenanigans?
Hopefully I’m not to only one, but I feel like I’m in the awkward stage of still “having it”, but not more than one night a week. One more thing I could add to this for recent grads reading, is try not to get into a new relationship as soon as you move into a new city (if you are already dating someone from college that’s different). I did that because I thought it was time to “grow up” and that I’d already “had my fun in college”. Long story short I ended up missing out on a lot of good times/trips with friends. Instead I spent(wasted) my money on my then girlfriend and trying to impress her friends/family. DON’T BE ME.
I dunna know man being single that first year in a new city sucks hard…. those trips and fun with friends equates to sitting in the same bar finding out that freshly graduated girls want to date older guys so you get smashed in the corner alone.
I think I’ve only stayed awake past midnight once this month.. I feel you.
I feel you, I get upset when I can’t go grocery shopping on Sunday and make my meals conveniently in Tupperware for the week to avoid spending money going out to eat when I’m gonna be at work and pissed off anyway. I mean its so I can spend all my money on stupid sh*t like booze and motorcycles, but still. Quick grab on that name BTW.
Ditto on the eating grocery store food for lunch to pay for motorcycle stuff. The quarter life crisis is real.
I made my first doctors appointment as an adult. It felt weird.
The quality of writing has gone to shit around here.
Damn Mr. Rogers, tell us how you really feel.
If we’re talking overall quality, it’s hard to disagree. Something tells me it has to do with me getting older when the writers get younger.