Reflecting on Days Off and the Week Ahead

After a long stretch of five back-to-back night shifts, I found myself spending most of my two days off sleeping. It’s been a while since I slept so much, and while part of me wonders if that was the best use of my days off, I realize it was much-needed rest. Shifting between night and day schedules isn’t easy, and sometimes, your body demands that extra bit of downtime. Unfortunately, my usual routine got pushed aside—I missed out on a walk outside and even skipped lunch today.

Now, I’m sitting in my favorite spot on the couch, thinking about the week ahead. Tomorrow, I switch gears again, heading into five morning shifts. The transition from nights to mornings isn’t my favorite, but I’ll tackle it as best I can. It’s all part of the rhythm in this line of work, and I know that finding a balance is key.

Next Tuesday, I’ll be attending an industry exhibition as a trade visitor. I’ve been to these large exhibitions before, and while they can be valuable, I often feel they’re overwhelming and not as personally impactful as smaller, focused events. The sheer size of these gatherings can make it hard to really connect or dive deep into specific technologies or practices that would benefit my day-to-day work. I find that smaller, industry-specific events are better suited to learning, networking, and updating myself on relevant advancements.

Despite my reservations, I’ll make the most of it. Who knows—maybe there will be a few valuable takeaways or unexpected connections. And if not, it’s still an opportunity to see the latest developments and maybe even bring back a few ideas to improve our operations.

As I sit here, I’m reminded that, even with the busyness of my schedule, it’s essential to recharge and prepare for whatever comes next.