Fridays have always been my favorite day of the week. All of my hopes and dreams for the weekend are still in place, no time has been wasted, and sometimes the best part of an event is anticipating it. Comparing how I spend Fridays now compared to five years ago (when I was 21) is laughable, like looking at two different people.

THEN:
I wake up, likely a little groggy from Thursday night’s festivities, and head to class (if I had class on Fridays that quarter, which was rare).

NOW:
I wake up, tired from the week of early morning wake-ups and feeling the load of a 40-hour workweek, and begrudgingly head to the gym for a spin class. I feel good leaving the gym and am glad I went.

THEN:
I spend my day recovering, potentially going to class, eating burritos, and lounging at the beach. Exercise? I think not.

NOW:
I attempt to be a productive member of society by working a full-time job.

THEN:
As the evening draws closer to night, I round up my housemates and friends and pre-game before heading out for the night. Pre-gaming would involve shots and maybe a few rounds of king’s cup or flip cup.

NOW:
I leave work at 5:00pm and am excited for a quiet night in. If I do go out during the weekend, it’s usually on a Saturday because I’ll have more energy. Take out, a movie/TV show, and some quality time with Jesse are usually on the Friday night agenda.

THEN:
I head out for a typical night in Isla Vista during my tenure at UCSB: after the pre-gaming, my friends and I head out to house parties, play beer pong, and eat some greasy food before crashing in the wee hours of the morning. I loved hanging out and drinking beer on friends’ beachside balconies, listening to the music people listen to in college and having intense philosophical/political/life debates, the details of which would be hazy in the morning.

NOW:
I rarely go to bed after midnight (I realize this is matronly of me). After relaxing on this Friday evening, I head to bed so I can rest up for my long run tomorrow. I’ve eaten a large healthy meal (Japanese probably) and may have indulged in a beer or glass of wine.

THEN:
I wake up with a monster-sized headache and chug every gatorade, water bottle, or last night’s chaser I can find. A bagel sandwich or breakfast burrito would be my priority.

NOW:
I’m out and about before most people are awake. I enjoy the beautiful scenery and idyllic running routes San Francisco offers, hangover-free.