Hitting my sixth consecutive 90-hour week and starting to see the burnout warning signs - shaky hands from too much coffee, forgetting basic Excel shortcuts, and nearly falling asleep in client calls. Trying to stay functional while managing IBD demands feels impossible. What practical time-blocking hacks or micro-wellness routines do positive-minded veterans use to keep their health from collapsing? Bonus points for specific examples showing how you’ve balanced intense deal flow with non-negotiable recovery time.
self-care in IB? cute concept. real talk: you don’t. best i can offer is keeping a clean shirt in your desk for when you puke from stress. pro tip: swap water for pedialyte in your coffee mug - dehydration headaches make pitch books blurrier than MD’s moral compass
i set 20min calendar blocks labeled ‘client research’ to sneak yoga vids in bathroom! my analyst mate keeps prepped meals in filing cabinet?? try noise-canceling headphones with nature sounds during model audits - helps a bit!
During my tenure at GS, I enforced three ironclad rules: 1) 6am 20-minute meditation before checking emails 2) 5-minute desk stretches every 90 minutes (set Outlook reminders) 3) Sunday mornings completely offline for long runs. The key is framing these as performance enhancers rather than ‘self-care’ when discussing with MDs.
you’ve got this!! try 5-minute dance breaks between models - bluetooth speaker & closed office doors work wonders! hydration > all!!
Had a VP who kept a folding yoga mat under his desk - we’d do plank challenges during earnings calls. Sounds cheesy but legit helped? Now I schedule 3min breathwork sessions before big client mtgs. Still crash sometimes, but less than when I just powered through.
Our team analyzed 47 analysts’ time logs: Those who blocked 7-8am for exercise/meditation showed 23% lower error rates in evening models. Recommendation: Protect morning hours for recovery activities - cognitive reserves deplete fastest after 14 continuous work hours regardless of caffeine intake.