I have similar concerns as the OP. Mainly, I am stresssed to the max working 12 hour days on Internship which consist of clinical work+testing+finishing dissertation. I am seriously hoping my postdoc (also at a VA) will be somewhat of a reprieve. Frankly, a big draw of a VA postdoc and career, for me, is my notion that they essentially kick you out after 4:30pm/at the end of your tour. I am used to staying until 9pm doing clinical work on Internship (that's just weekdays - weekends I work at home) and before grad school when I worked in research there would be nights I didn't leave the lab until 11:30pm. I could do that in my 20's but I just can't take it anymore. Some of it was that I am a careful, thorough worker. But it's also just that I gave up my life to building my career. With my first baby on the way I no longer want to be that sacrificing and simply won't be able to. I won't be studying for the EPPP until at least 6 to 9 months into postdoc due to baby and family issues, so with just having the postdoc itself on my plate for a little while, I am hoping things will ease up on the work front. I wonder if other people who have completed a VA postdoc found it less all-consuming than Internship? Granted, everyone's Internship year may not be as taxing as mine. I am hoping Postdoc will feel more like a job, less like I have to be scrambling 24/7. I want weekends again!
