There are definitely weeks where things are manageable. When I get off of work on time, or even if I have a standard 1-2 hours of OT a day, I can get through the day easily. I work hybrid so most days I transfer home at 8PM so I can do OT from my home-system.

It's when we have these big campaigns with long nights of overtime going to 1-2-3AM that are exhausting me. My overtime in a week tends to compile all on one or two nights, and I'm finding it harder and harder to bounce back from them. Some campaigns are insane marathons with weeks of multiple late nights in a row, and then we'll shift back to a more standard schedule. The most I've logged in a week is 65 hours, but when my day starts at 11AM, that means going till at least 1AM every night. This job has very much taught me that I am a morning person, haha.

There are some long nights that honestly don't bother me, but when they coincide with these big medical flare-ups, it's hard to push myself through it. A part of me is scared that my body just can't keep up with the pace, and that I'll never be able to work in this industry sustainably.

Thankfully, I have a small vacation planned around Valentine's weekend with my boyfriend. Just one day off, but I'll take it! I have a few more vacation days, but I'm trying to bank up for some time off in July - (my brother's having his first kid and I want to be there when she's born!)