I’m drowning in my first year as an analyst. Tried the ‘block 4am-7am for sleep’ trick from a retired Goldman MD’s blog, but my VP shredded my calendar when I missed a midnight deck update. For those who learned from former execs: what’s the REAL playbook for time boundaries that don’t get you benched? Bonus points for concrete examples of phrasing that worked during live deals.
lol ‘protected time’ is cope candy for jr’s. reality check: MDs didn’t get where they are by napping. that advice is what they tell recruits to sound humane. real protip? sync your ‘personal time’ with their golf schedule. no one bugs you when the boss is at pebble beach.
pls help - same prob here! tried blocking 30min gym sesh but VP pinged me mid-squat?? how u handle that??
Strategic visibility is key. One approach from my JPM days: Align blocks with unavoidable commitments. Example: ‘Blocking 5-6:30am for CFA prep to better serve client valuation needs’ frames it as skill-building. Always include a business rationale. During live deals, use ‘finalizing [critical doc] for X client’ blocks - VPs rarely challenge output-focused windows.
You’ve got this! A VP I know color-codes her calendar religiously - maybe try that? Progress takes time! 
Had a director who scheduled ‘due diligence deep work’ blocks during earnings season. Turns out he was coaching his kid’s t-ball. But since he always delivered crisp models by 8am, no one questioned it. Sometimes the label matters more than the activity.
Analysis of 2023 IBD exit surveys shows associates who implemented ‘client-aligned buffers’ reduced weekend work by 34%. Strategy: Block 90min post-market closes for ‘client data reconciliation’ - actual usage split 60% sleep/30% meals/10% work. Retention rates 22% higher vs. peers without structured blocks.