How do you guys get in your caffeine? Do you guys take it in on a constant daily basis? I feel like I don't want to be dependent on it for the rest of my life. I have a coworker who drinks coffee twice a day every single day. He literally has the smell of coffee beans engraved to his body.
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I'm only an intern but I was never really a big coffee drinker until I started (do drink energy drinks from time to time). Out of the workplace, you can be a little tired and slide by. However, in the office I want to be alert and not be known as that intern that was snoozing in the client meeting. So I get by with coffee.
I haven't worked in the industry but I've pulled many all-nighters working on school CS projects...
Drink a ton of cold water, you'll be surprised how successful it is at waking you up, and you have to piss a lot.
Coffee twice a day? That's all? I drink lots off coffee and a lot of water. Both help quite a bit.
I usually start my day with tea, drink lots of water throughout. Sometimes I'll go for coffee with someone in the afternoon. If I'm feeling tired, I'll get an espresso from the machine (I try to stay away from lattes and cappuccinos to avoid the bloating and calories). Sometimes I'll have five or six espressos in a day; sometimes I'll go a week without any coffee.
Being dependent on caffeine is bad, but caffeine itself is good for you; like all things, you just need to use it in moderation.
Drink tea. Not that fake liptop bag shit, get some legit stuff and you'll be surprised how much more effective and healthy it is than coffee.
4:1 ratio water to cofee. 4 8oz of water for every 1 8oz of coffee is what a doctor told me a few years back.
Two cups a day is pretty standard at the office. One morning, one afternoon.
This is wall street, start bumping lines at your desk. No need for coffee when you constantly have cocaine in your system...
But yeah, 2 cups a day isn't much at all but as most said drinking water is great. Really wakes you up and its always important to stay hydrated
Coffee sends me on frequent trips to the WC so I try to avoid it. Iced coffee, however, does not have the same effect on me.... Anyway, there was one guy in my group who never once had a drop of coffee, red bull, anything. People were making bets on how long it would take for him to cave in. No one bet that he would last forever and they all lost. Some people just don't need that extra jolt I guess
I just do Diet Coke/Coke Zero or equivalent. Two half liter bottles a day, starting first thing in the morning.
Two coffees a day is child's play. I have one on the commute, and at least 2-3 more cups throughout the day. If you want to avoid the caffeine, adderall is money, though I can't imagine its effects on the human body are any less bad than coffee (which isn't that bad for you) (just have to shit a lot)
Agreed; I'm usually 2-3 cups a day. Supplement coffee w/ exercise and I usually have enough energy to stay awake.
I feel like there are different levels of coffee: free stuff from office pantry, normal coffee, espresso based.
I also find that you need less coffee if you're just in a better mood, unless you're just so tired that you physically can't keep your eyes open (in which case you need to move onto energy drinks)
I'm pretty sure this is total crap, but I've found that the more caffeine I drink, the harder I crash. So I start big and taper. Big cup of coffee in the morning, followed by a smaller one. Then a diet coke or tea after lunch. I don't know usually need anything else unless I'm pushing past midnight.
Absolutely, caffeine can have that effect on youe. Even worse when you drink caffeine constantly and then try and not drink it for a few days. Thus, it's better to use just in moderation or not start at all. Pretty hard to do though with schedules and time constraints.
i only drink water
dont want to get dependent on caffeine or stained teeth
I drink coffee everyday and chew gum afterwards, and I've managed to keep a mouth full of pearly whites. Dependency could be worse. The worst that happens is you get a headache that lasts for an hour or two and then you are fine. Seems like a small price to pay for alertness in the workplace.
Back in the 80s didn't everyone just do coke?
Disclaimer: I'm a recently graduated high school student with no experience working at a firm.
Although I've never worked in the industry, I have had other jobs on a tight schedule which resulted in me being as tired as a koala during the day. I would usually drink 2 cups of coffee during my work hours (weekends while in school). Oddly enough, I usually didn't have to drink coffee in the morning because I would workout and take a cold shower. That shit wakes you up for a solid few hours.
a lot of times when u feel tired u are a little dehydrated (or not fully hydrated i should say) so i just drink water and yeah i know drinking coffee doesnt mean you will get stained teeth also it makes me go to the bathroom more than i'd like :D
Just drink orange juice and you will be fine.
Breast milk keeps me alert
i only have coffee during all nighters, I dont think its good to drink it otherwise as in banking given the hours you are always tired and youll just get to a point where coffee does nothing and you are drinking huge amts of it unneccessarily
eat lots of fruit..
@couchy girls would love to swallow you if you eat lots of fruit
I was the same way when I started in banking. I ended up not grabbing coffee in the mornings and only using it in the afternoon when I was really tired. To this day I wouldn't consider myself dependent on coffee.
5 hour energy. Half in the morning, half after lunch. Supplement with coffee as needed.
This.
Half of a 5 hour energy gives you a noticeable boost as soon as you take a sip. Maybe it's the funky taste, but it wakes you up. Then another half in the afternoon to keep the energy level up. I take one almost every other day because I'm always exhausted and I can't stand the taste of coffee
sorry...but I am the only one who needs to take a shit after my morning coffee? the stuff is magic.
I can't actually drink coffee anymore -- I find that I can't sleep even if I drink 1 cup, and I used to drink a lot of coffee -- several cups a day. I'll only drink 1 cup when I'm really really tired -- the downside is that getting off of the caffeine addiction is tough. but I find that I feel a lot better if I fuel myself with drinking a lot of water and eating healthily.
www.marksdailyapple.com
I don't drink coffee nor soda. As mentioned above, water does wonders. I drank almost exclusively water through my analyst stint and typically found that I had more energy than my peers. I recommend you try to last as long as possible without caffeine and only give in on truly drastic situations. Most people I know in the industry drink coffee, so you wouldn't be an outlier if you threw back a few cups a day.
Lots of cold water and green juice for my daily routine. Adderall once or twice a week when shit gets crazy.
Caffeine pills. Shit works, and comes out to pennies per pill. 225mg each. Like a large Starbucks, or an energy drink.
Actually, a lot of workout supplements work for stimulation...Yohimbe, some pre-workout drinks (e.g. NOS), and ephedrine.
Really, really doubt it is healthy. But, if you need energy...it beats falling asleep standing up.
I agree, the caffeine pills are great. Feels way less jittery taking these then downing a huge coffee.
Green Tea all day long. Glass first thing in the morning and repeat every 2 hours.
I'm no quant, but I think it is fair to say that LONG HOURS !== CAFFEINE.
do u guys ever get caffeine withdrawal?
i drink two coffees a day. the days without = epic headache
5 HR ENERGY!!!!
go tug on some pron in the bathroom, keeps me alert and awake
Surprised to see no one mention Monster Energy. I have drank close to 250-300 in the past year.
Alternatives to Coffee (Originally Posted: 02/15/2016)
I hate the crash I get from coffee, energy drinks and other stimulants. I'm curious to know if anyone has any go-to alternatives for coffee and prescription drugs to stay energized and focused while working long hours. I'm also looking to save money and time. Has anyone had success with any of the thousands of supplements available online?
Honestly, I drink tea. Oolong and White tea have enough natural caffeine and antioxidants to get me through the day.
Oddly cold water works fine and doesn't have the calories.
I'm not sure why you are crashing so hard from coffee of all things. Just make sure you stay hydrated (aka drink water...) and you should be fine.
I get a crash from coffee. I get a dull mildly anxious, mildly depressed feeling. I start to worry about how much I didn't get done. I haven't found anybody else that gets like this though.
If I haven't eaten anything then I get extremely anxious and it is actually counter productive. This only happens once in awhile, but you are not the only one.
OP, stop being such a colossal pussy
If you can't handle crashes then don't take anything from your list. Maybe improve your diet or start working out
Just drink more water. Some of you bros are chronically dehydrated and don't realize it.
BTW any stimulants you take without first having a good diet will make you feel worse. College parties anyone?
Probably you could try drinking tea as FinanceGuy15 mentioned. Either oolong, white, or green tea could work depending on you - for me green tea works best since it keeps me alert and relaxed at the same time.
black coffee by itself shouldn't lead to a crash. if it does and you're healthy, getting enough sleep, and hydrated, see a doctor, somethings messed up. notice I said black coffee, not a tampax frappucino with 50g of sugar.
in addition to adapt or die 's advice, here's what I'd suggest:
I personally prefer #1, but more options is always a good thing.
Biosteel High Performance Mix, works wonders. No caffeine, no sugar.
Is that a steroidz?
+1 for your username
Crack cocaine, a shot of pickle juice, and a tea spoon of peanut butter.
Caffeine = Crack? (Originally Posted: 03/23/2010)
For IBD analysts: how much coffee do you consume on a typical day? Have you ever known an analyst who did not drink coffee?
For those prospective monkeys who do not drink coffee regularly now, is there any hope of avoiding starting when we go FT?
Why would you want to avoid coffee?
i drink about 3-4 grande americanos a day...
starting to give me some stomache problems, but cant exactly avoid loading up on caffeine if i want to stay awake and actually be able to focus..........
Why don't you switch to sugar instead? When I'm up late studying I usually eat a candy bar..energizing.
Because most bankers are not freshman in college, unlike you.
Most
Yea sugar is good if you want to have about 10 minutes of energy followed by a crash. Caffeine gives you a more stable stream of alertness in my opinion.
I don't drink coffee ever, and I never have. I've seen it destroy too many people in my own family for me to want to get hooked on that. There are people in my family whose hands will shake and they won't feel good all morning unless they have coffee. That's one addiction I'm happy to avoid. Though I do know most other people drink coffee religiously.
are you talking about cofee or metamphetamine?
I don't understand why people knock on coffee. If you get it black, it's delicious and a great way to wake up. Helps you digest after a a big meal and is way better for you than red bull or whatever crazy energy drinks are out there.
Definitely agree red bull, coke and all that other stuff is even worse. I don't know of anybody who "knocks" on coffee, most people I know can't get enough of it. I just prefer to stay away from it, as I do those other drinks.
People that don't drink coffee either don't like the taste or don't like caffeine. I just don't like the taste.
Half of a 20 mg Adderal mixed with a 20 oz coffee. Add cream if you'd like. Follow with green tea. Repeat every 4 hours. Works incredible! And a lot easier on the stomach!
Oh yeah... and don't forget to eat.
First thing first, coffee is actually packed with antioxydants 1, so it's not as bad as many people think if it's taken in moderation (3 or 4 cups a day).
For those of you looking for a good substitute to coffee, a wise choice is Yerba Mate. YM will give you a lift, but is milder and less acidic. I've heard several bankers telling me that they were taking some because it's better suited for long period of awakeness. Moreover, some studies claim other health benefits such as "boost immunity, restore youthful hair color, retard aging, combat fatigue, control the appetite and eliminate insomnia" 2" so that can come quite handy for people working in banking...
Definitely better than Red Bull..
Hope this helps!
1 http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9105892/ 2 http://www.brainready.com/blog/yerba_mate_vs_coffee_which_.html
I don't use caffeine at all, I hate the ups and downs and dependency. Most of my colleagues throw away a ton of money on coffee ($10-15 a day adds up quickly) and can't function without it. Then they complain about not being able to fall asleep.
True story. I can't believe how often some people hit up Starbucks each day. I just drink a steady rotation of free coffee and tea from my floor, which definitely saves some bills as you mentioned.
I actually drink a lot earl grey tea
It gives me a bigger boost than coffee and taste better imo
Check the Starbucks free pastry thread for a way to get free coffee.
Starbucks is awesome, but in moderation. Easy way to drop a C note a week if your not careful.
HELP MY CAFFEINE RUSH (Originally Posted: 07/12/2012)
I have a stats final at 2pm. Once again I have waited until the last minute to study and have spent many hours procrastinating on WSO. I've been up for 2 days on a caffeine high and am about to burn out. If I fall asleep I'm not waking up for 8 hours, plus I need to study more. I need to last until 4PM. At what time should I start with the red bull/espresso alternation, or should I just keep caffeine flowing continuously? Please help bring my GPA back above a 3.7.
Yes I know. Summer school is for morons. But transferring can be a bitch.
PS: Anyone know the differences between a pooled variance t test, paired t test, and two sample t test?
Breathe
Wow, this made me nervous by reading it. Chill out
Wait until you start to feel tired to pound down the red bulls and espresso. Once you're tired though go balls deep, and right before your exam you should chug whatever you have left that won't make you twitchy. The key with caffeine is to avoid being a twitchy mess and anything below that is good.
Thanks.
Btw, I think I did well, or at least by the sounds of how other people did, well enough to get an A on what sounds like should be a pretty steep curve.
Coffee? (Originally Posted: 03/15/2008)
I was wondering if there is anyone here in banking here that does NOT drink coffee. I think coffee tastes like shit and have never had a cup in my life. I wanted to see how feasible it is to stay off coffee during your years as an analyst - would energy drinks and Mountain Dew cover me?
caffine is caffeine. red bull mountain dew caffeine pills whatever keeps u energized
oh and btw how do u know coffee tastes like sht if youve never had a cup in your life?
I've had only one cup of coffee in my life and agree, it tastes terrible. I have survived nearly a year without drinking coffee, soda, nor any red bull equivalents. If I pull an all-nighter, I may drink some green tea the next day, but I can usually survive without it. I've always had a history of insomnia, so staying awake typically isn't trouble for me. There are a number of guys I work with that rely on heavy caffeine to keep them going. However, very few analysts actually drink coffee from what I've seen, most of the coffee drinking goes to the older folks.
I drink 5-6 cups a day
DOING THINGS IS WHAT I LIKE TO DO!
Sugar-free Red Bull is my drink...I love coffee but sometimes it isn't enough.
There are many ways to get caffeine no one is limited to coffee. Weird question
http://www.quotegarden.com/coffee.html
I agree with pretty much everything at this link. Read it, and be ye converted.
I can't drink coffee, I tend to get anxiety attacks if I do so I guess I'll have to find some other way to stay awake.
We have a Lavazza single shot espresso maker with the milk foaming attachment. Take that, some good hot chocolate mix and I can make free excellent mochas.
Most people have a problem with coffee cuz they drink crappy coffee, drink good stuff and give it a try.
My own opinion is to drink as little coffee as possible. I used to drink Coke like a fiend, and was totally immune to caffeine. Made a conscious effort to cut back prior to a SA stint, and I'm keeping at it in the year prior to my start. If you're going to have to pull a few all-nighters back-to-back, you better damn well hope the caffeine hits hard. Otherwise I try to stick to a snickers bar every couple hours or so. Keeps the bloodsugar up but doesn't get you wired or shaky.
Caffeine Side Effects (Originally Posted: 07/13/2013)
I have noticed since I started mega dosing on caffeine that red/purplish circulars have started to appear under my eyes just as when I am not sleeping well. Lately I have been sleeping about 8 hours per night. I have seen a more exaggerated form of this happen in caffeine addicts. Is there anything that I can stack with caffeine or use in ins place? Also is is it better to cycle caffeine?
You build up a tolerance to caffeine pretty rapidly. "Cycling" isn't really ideal though, as there are pretty apparent withdrawal symptoms.
I don't really see any reason to "mega dose" caffeine. Even if you are using it as a diet aid, I'm sure 200mg is more than enough at any single time. You are probably better off just buying some ephedrine - cleaner energy, shorter half life and no withdrawal effects (though you will build up a tolerance).
read more on caffeine, it doest help you as much as you think
educate yourself, internet is your friend
It's great for pooping
Pooping only work if you somebody to poop on. That's pooping with purpose. (strategy-driven)
I don't get withdraw, but it does lose its effectiveness after a while. That's why I was thinking of cycling it.
Coffee takes iron out of your bloodstream so that's why you have these circles under your eyes. Read more here: http://fscn.cfans.umn.edu/prod/groups/cfans/@pub/@cfans/@fscn/@admin/do…
More caffeine in your system = less quality of sleep. I would recommend restricting your caffeine to earlier in the day
You can cycle a caffeine stack, but not necessarily just caffeine. Caffeine by itself, does not necessitate cycling, because it does not hugely down-regulate specific receptors that are needed for most stimulants; namely, beta II receptors. Check out some fitness/BB forums for more assistance.
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