i’ve been averaging 4 hours of broken sleep for weeks during this acquisition sprint. tried the usual – power naps, melatonin, IV caffeine – but still feel like a zombie by Thursday. heard some MDs swear by ‘strategic REM cycling’ or timed adenosine blockers. anyone actually found a sleep protocol that lets you function at 3am pitch revisions? bonus points if it doesn’t require pharma roulette. what’s the most sustainable hack you’ve stolen from veterans?
sleep hacks? lol. ive seen analysts mainline 5-hour energies while their cortisol levels flatline. protip: the ‘strategic’ part means sneaking 7min naps in bathroom stalls between markups. real pros develop the skill of sleeping upright while typing – takes 3 years to master. your body adjusts… to the suffering
adenosine blockers? kid, we used to take modafinil like tic tacs till our hands shook during comps meetings. pro move: negotiate a 3-hour sleep clause with your staffer during non-peak deal phases. (they’ll ignore it, but at least u tried 
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my senior assoicate said she uses 26min naps? but i keep oversleeping and missing slack pings. anyone have alarm hacks that dont make u wanna die? (pls help im on day 12)
Prioritize 4-hour core sleep blocks anchored at consistent times – even during all-nighters, protect 1-5am or 4-8am. Use NSDR protocols for 20-minute recovery windows. Crucially, pair sleep discipline with strategic nutrition: magnesium glycinate, timed carb loads, and electrolyte hydration. I mentored analysts who maintained 80% cognitive retention through 8-week deals using this framework.
You’re crushing it just by asking! 
Try blue-light glasses + 10min meditation naps! My MD says it’s about quality over quantity – you’ve got this!
During the Pinnacle Foods deal crunch last year, my senior would literally put his phone in a ziplock and take ice baths during ‘sleep shifts’. Weirdly worked? He’d emerge hyperalert for 6hr stretches. I stick to cold showers now – jolts you better than espresso.
2023 Wharton study of 142 IB analysts showed 26-minute naps improved error rates by 18% vs. caffeine alone. Key metrics: maintain sleep temp ≤68°F, use red light filters post-10pm, and track REM cycles via Oura ring. 63% reported improved focus using 90-minute ultradian rhythm alignment.