Sleep: It Does the Body Good

I’m so tired I could fall asleep right now, at my desk, lights on and co-workers buzzing around me.

I had some friends come into town over the weekend and stayed up much later than I typically do. To say I lost sleep would be an understatement.

So yesterday, I awoke with only a few hours of sleep under my belt from the weekend. My eyes refused to open.

A friend suggested something called a 5 hour energy drink. So after struggling for a few hours despite several cups of coffee I went to Tom Thumb.

I purchased the 5 hour energy bottle, another energy drink and a juice. The bottle told me just to take half of its contents and I’d be good for hours.

So I chugged the disgusting berry-flavored drink until I had taken in half and waited to the magic to begin. I waited, and waited and waited.

Nothing happened.

So I grabbed the bottle and inhaled the rest of the contents. Guess what happened?

Nothing.

No energy drink in the world could help me. So my suggestion, sleep. It’s important because days after staying out late I’m still struggling.

Pathetic.

… and I’m Here Because?

I have wanted out of the newspaper business for a while. Before I even started at the Daily News I had thought of only working here for a few months and then moving on.

It’s harder than you think.

Sure, I still contemplate leaving the newspaper business for public relations, communications, publishing or my own online craft store (it’s in the thinking process). But opportunities come up in this job are so rare for any other field.

One of those opportunities is covering a murder trial that is attracting national coverage. I’ve busted my rump with the pretrial hearings, motion hearings, background coverage – I’ve done what’s needed to be prepared for this big job.

The coverage and several other pending murder trials are one of the reasons I’ve thought of not looking for another job and sticking it out here.

Well, that’s all changed.

I was called into my content editor’s office – never a good sign.

She gave me the look that told me something was wrong and that bad news was afoot. She told me the editor was giving the trial to a more seasoned reporter. She said sorry.

Whatever.

I was not upset, it made sense. Of course he should cover the huge trial. I was even given permission to hang with him one day for a bit to learn about the trial process after I asked.

The thing is it showed me how far I can get while working here. Any chance to grow beyond what I have is likely to be taken away.

So what am I doing here? What is my purpose?

I’m not upset, it has just given me a lot to think about.

Back Again

It’s been nearly a year since I worked a night shift. It’s been nice to say the least.

But since my counterpart left everyone in the newsroom is stepping up and sacrificing their evenings to cover the shift and tonight is my night.

It feels a little weird since when I was working night shift I was incredibly green.

Now, I know what I’m doing. I know what headlines are going to work and I know how to manage my time.

The only thing I’m having issues with is that I’m already tired. My body is not used to being at the office past 2:30 anymore.

I know there were nights there when I would be bored to tears from 8 or 9, but I guess that was before I knew what I was doing because I have nothing now.

I’ve written stories, updated the website and rifled through arrest reports and I still have three hours.

Oh my.

Bored at a Desk

Two things to know about me:

A. I sit at a desk for long periods of time and it can be incredibly monotonous.

B. I tend to be about 10 years behind on all technology, internet stuff and music.

So I discovered an amazing website where you can make your own playlist or listen to other people’s playlists. It’s amazing!

Everyday I stick one earbud in my ear, bob my head and happily sing to myself while typing the boring, non-thoughtful things I do.

I thought I would share this website with the world, although most likely you already know about it. I also, being a humble person, feel like I have made the greatest playlist of all time. So feel free to listen and enjoy!

Why Can’t I Settle

I love my job.

It’s the first time I have truly been able to say I am completely happy with where I am. But for some reason, this feeling of unsteadiness has over taken me. I want a new job, a new town and a new start.

I love my parents, but living with them after living on your own is a whole other ball game. I’m living with them now because, honestly, it’s cheap. I just bought a car and I’m living on a journalist salary — which if you don’t know is small.

I also love and adore my hometown. I go anywhere and I see someone I know. The small-town life is one I want for my children, but right now while I’m single and young and I want something else, something different.

Then there’s work.

I love it. I get to write about things I enjoy, talk with amazing people and listen to fascinating stories for a living, for a living! But then comes my feelings of restlessness, the feeling that tells me I want change, and now.

I talked with my friend Leslie about this, and while she was a Public Relations major she took some psych classes and feels pretty well versed on the subject.

Leslie told me it’s our generation.

We feel a constant need for change. Look at us, we have to have phones that can do everything, watch television with features that allow us to speed past the commercials and become bored quickly (well, at least that’s how I feel) with everything from to school to our love lives.

Who knew being 23 could present so many challenges.

So here is my dilemma.

Do I start looking for a new job? Should I just get over myself and stick it out? If I quit, will future employers wonder at my lack of time at each workplace?

I’ve also felt that journalism would be something for now, just right now. I’ve never envisioned myself working my entire life as a reporter, and I would be far too board stuck behind a desk as an editor. So what will I do?

No clue.

For now, I write and enjoy my job. I’ve put some thoughts into the future, especially since my feelings of antsy-ness (it’s a word) have overtaken me.

I’m looking for a new start, but I’m letting God direct me.

So when, where, who and all the other questions floating around will have to wait.

So, here’s to waiting — Happy New Year!