Welcome to the real world...

I am just so sick of that phrase? Is anyone else sick of that phrase?

Now the main problem with having a full time job (that has got absolutely nothing to do with the career you want) is what you do on your days off. Do you spend them leisurely or productively? After working an average 40 hour week it becomes very important to make those precious days off really count for something, right? This is just one of the many problems I have discovered with life since leaving the reassuring cocoon of full-time education and being thrust into the cold, harsh world of the graduate. It's quite a struggle balancing a full-time job, with a budding twenty-something social life, whilst also trying to sell the best of yourself to (hopefully) future employers.

For one thing I have recently put on copious amounts of weight (which I blame on the chefs at work for accidentally making too many chips, rather than my own lack of self-control when confronted with said chips) which, naturally, means one must visit the gym almost weekly. This therefore can take a couple of hours out of the day, meaning there is even less time to do other things. Oh exercise why must you be so necessarily tedious?

Secondly, it's a day off. You want to do something fun/relaxing on your day off. Whether it be seeing friends, shopping or just going for a nice country walk; it's nice to be able to do whatever you like. Personally, I've had an ever-increasing list of about 20 books that I've wanted to read for the past year, however it's hard to fit it in with all the other 'leisurely' activities demanding my attention. Would I rather sit in my house all day with a book or spend some well earned doller? Or as I have recently found myself doing, traipsing around the greater Bristol area in search of Gorillas? Gorillas 1, Books 0.

Now indulging myself on my days off may be all very well and good, but it prevents me from doing productive things such as learning Italian, blogging, applying for jobs, writing cover letters, researching companies and just generally trying to move out of the bar industry, in which I am currently working, and getting into an area that I wish. Now this is a process which, although important, can be largely time-consuming and dull. On top of said job-related activities comes doing laundry, cleaning the bathroom, vacuuming and just generally doing things that put me firmly into the 'dutiful daughter' category.

So many things to do, so little time. Ah well, I guess that's the real world. Welcome to that by the way...