What is it like to work as a USPS mail carrier? A real-life experience from a beginner running routes

When I first started running USPS routes, my biggest mistake wasn't being slow; it was rushing the loading process in the morning. DPS, flats, and parcels are fine when looked at separately, but once I hit the street, I'd find packages buried, the scanner would be beeping, and I'd get flustered. Later, I started prioritizing those first ten minutes. I place large items according to the route…