Brain fog and feeling overwhelmed in HF land

Hey guys,

Been doing this for a few years. as my book size and # of positions has gone up, so has my stress and difficulty sleeping. I can also feel myself getting unhealthier. This is clearly no sustainable in the LT, and I dread to think of the day where I'm in a deep draw and it gets worse. To all the experienced analysts and PMs out there, how do you guys deal with the stress and seemingly inevitable health problems?

4 Comments
 

Managing stress and maintaining health in high-pressure environments like hedge funds is crucial for long-term sustainability. Based on the most helpful WSO content, here are actionable strategies to help you combat brain fog, stress, and health challenges:

1. Prioritize Physical Health

  • Exercise Regularly: Even 15-20 minutes of vigorous exercise daily can significantly improve mental clarity and reduce stress. Activities like walking, stretching, or hitting the gym can help.
  • Healthy Eating: Avoid relying on convenience foods. Prep meals when possible or choose healthier options like a paleo diet. Moderation is key if you enjoy alcohol.
  • Sleep Discipline: While sleep might be limited, aim for quality over quantity. Even short naps or consistent sleep schedules can help.

2. Mental Health Practices

  • Meditation and Breathing: Learn to meditate and focus on your breathing. This helps you recognize when you're under pressure and manage it intelligently.
  • Therapy or Counseling: Consider seeing a therapist to work through stress and anxiety. A neutral, thoughtful ear can provide valuable perspective.
  • Adopt a Stoic Mindset: Focus on what you can control and let go of what you can’t. This mindset can help you navigate tough situations with resilience.

3. Stress Management Techniques

  • Big Picture Thinking: When overwhelmed, step back and assess the worst-case scenario. Often, the fear of failure is worse than the reality.
  • Hobbies and Breaks: Pursue hobbies or activities that bring you joy, even if it’s just for an hour or two on weekends. This can help you recharge.
  • Short Vacations: If possible, take a week off to reset. It can provide clarity and help you evaluate your current pace and lifestyle.

4. Workplace Strategies

  • Push Back When Necessary: If you’re in a position to do so, set boundaries to carve out time for personal well-being.
  • Efficiency Over Hours: Focus on getting faster and more efficient at your tasks to free up time for yourself.

5. Perspective and Balance

  • Remember the Job is Temporary: Don’t let mistakes or rude colleagues consume you. Most people move on after a few years, so keep a long-term perspective.
  • Balance Career and Soul: As one WSO contributor put it, “You are constantly doing things that are good for your career, but you also need to do things that are good for your soul.”

By implementing these strategies, you can better manage the demands of your role while safeguarding your health and well-being.

Sources: Handling Stress / Burnout in Private Equity, What is that Analyst skill set everyone is talking about exactly?, How much damage has banking done to your life?, How I stay Healthy in Investment Banking, What do you do when you're overworked? My anxiety is up the roof

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 

A few thoughts..


1. Take time off. Obviously you cant quite do that in the middle of earnings or during important conferences. But there are quieter times where you can step away. 

2. Exercise consistently and spend extra for the convenience. You need to make it easy for yourself to go on a consistent basis. 

3. Find ideas with duration. If you are consistently playing for very near term binary events, your life will be tougher.


4. Focus on the process not the outcome. If you have a good rigid process, the p&l will come over time and you can learn to detach yourself from day to day outcomes.


This job is very hard and there aren't really easy solutions. If it gets too tough, another good option is to take advantage of the non compete periods..  

 

Magnam rerum accusantium voluptatem est perferendis. Ut architecto earum rerum consequatur est repellat cupiditate. Quia nostrum dolore vitae sed rem facere voluptas. Quia reiciendis facere tempora rerum reprehenderit dolorum. Sequi et est et temporibus quo error maiores. Hic eos iste in voluptatum aut velit sint saepe.

Occaecati voluptas voluptatem voluptas est et hic maxime beatae. Consequatur praesentium omnis exercitationem neque aut in sed.

Inventore iusto eius beatae consectetur tempore. Nam veritatis unde quisquam maxime quis. Sit eos harum voluptates doloremque quidem autem officia eveniet.

Cumque aut ipsam minima quaerat. Nisi distinctio asperiores tempore est dolores debitis autem. Est sunt esse dolor deserunt quas. Sapiente eum adipisci ipsum eveniet distinctio iusto nihil.

Career Advancement Opportunities

August 2026 Hedge Fund

  • Point72 99.0%
  • D.E. Shaw 98.1%
  • Citadel Investment Group 97.1%
  • AQR Capital Management 96.2%
  • Magnetar Capital 95.2%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

August 2026 Hedge Fund

  • Magnetar Capital 99.0%
  • D.E. Shaw 98.0%
  • Blackstone Group 97.1%
  • Citadel Investment Group 96.1%
  • Millennium Partners 95.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

August 2026 Hedge Fund

  • AQR Capital Management 99.0%
  • Point72 98.1%
  • D.E. Shaw 97.1%
  • Citadel Investment Group 96.2%
  • Magnetar Capital 95.2%

Total Avg Compensation

August 2026 Hedge Fund

  • Portfolio Manager (9) $1,648
  • Vice President (27) $464
  • Director/MD (12) $423
  • NA (9) $320
  • Engineer/Quant (86) $288
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (26) $284
  • Manager (4) $282
  • 2nd Year Associate (32) $253
  • 1st Year Associate (77) $191
  • Analysts (242) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (29) $145
  • Junior Trader (5) $102
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (282) $96
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”