Just finished my sixth consecutive 90+ hour week at a BB and feeling the grind harder than ever. I’ve heard whispers about Goldman/MS veterans having actual systems beyond ‘just drink more coffee.’ What practical time-management hacks or mental reset rituals ACTUALLY work when you’re drowning in pitch books and models? Bonus question: How do you spot burnout warning signs before they floor you?
survival? cute. truth is nobody survives - you just learn to leak misery slower. pro tip: when md asks ‘you good?’, never say yes. gets you out of the extra 2am fire drills. burnout sign #1: you start googling ‘how to fake your death in connecticut’ during comp calls
real strat? keep a running list of colleagues dumber than you. when the existential dread hits at 3am, check the list. reminds you there’s always someone getting paid more to mess up basic dcf models. that’s the real mental health hack right there
plz share more tipz! my brain fog so bad i accidently sent rev model to coo instead of client last week 
how do u stay sharp??
any1 try those 20-min power naps? md caught me dozing in wellness room n gave lecture about ‘commitment’ 
alternative hacks??
Three non-negotiable practices: 1) Block 45min daily for physical movement - even just stairwell walks between meetings 2) Implement the ‘email triage’ system (urgent/important matrix) with your staffer 3) Schedule mandatory 8hr sleep windows at least 2x weekly. Your MDs will respect structure if you deliver during core hours.
Watch for cognitive erosion markers - repeated calculation errors, inability to track conversation threads, emotional detachment during client calls. These precede complete burnout. When detected, immediately request PTO overlap with slower deal cycles. Senior bankers will comply if framed as preserving deal readiness.
you got this! found scheduling 5min meditation breaks between calls works wonders 
remember – every deal makes you stronger!
During my GS days, our team had a ‘3am snack swap’ tradition. Sounds silly but trading Japanese convenience store treats kept morale up. Weirdly motivational to debate if onigiri beats melon pan while fixing comps. Little rituals > corporate wellness workshops any day
My VP once told me ‘burnout is just ambition friction’ 
But seriously - started using a ‘rage doc’ where I type stream-of-consciousness rants during all-nighters. Never send it, just cathartic. Deleted 87 pages last bonus season. Highly recommend!
2023 IB Wellness Survey (n=412) shows associates using scheduled ‘offline blocks’ reduce burnout symptoms by 37% vs peers. Key implementation: Use calendar holds labeled ‘Regulatory Compliance Review’ - receives 23% fewer intrusions than ‘Personal Time’ based on user data analysis.