How do you operate on minimal sleep?

I’ve recently had a string of late nights and feel like absolute shit. I believe the body learns to operate more efficiently once this becomes a pattern (but still suboptimal to a pattern of adequate sleep), but after getting around 8 hours for a couple months now, this 4 day stretch of 6h per night has been brutal.

I wear contacts, and my eyes do not like it when I get less than 8 hours. My stomach always feels upset, and all my body and mind want to do is go to sleep.

I am posting this in the banking forum as bankers are used to operating on less sleep.

22 Comments
 

I usually make a point to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep. Hasn't really been a problem once I finished my first year as an associate. 

On the rare occasions (like single digits / year) where that's not possible, I'm so wired from everything going on that sleep isn't really an option. It's like trying to fall asleep immediately after a hockey game, if you've ever played. 

 

I’ve had under 6 hours a night for years. You adjust. Also, I have 3-4 shots of espresso by the time I am in the office, plus run and shower first thing in the morning. Increase the quality of your sleep with no screen time prior to bed, meditation/breathing exercises before bed, and 5-10 minute stretch before you sleep. Tracking sleep using whoop has been a game changer for me in past couple of years.

 
Funniest

>bro just sleep deprive and have 4 espressos first thing in the morning every day for years

is this the state of the industry, bros?

 

Repetition. I know that long term this will only hurt your health, but forcing your body to adapt to minimal sleep takes time.

Presently, I operate on about 3-3.5 hours on weeknights, 5-5.5 on weekends, and if I’m in the field probably less then 2. It sucks for a couple of months, but eventually you just get used to it. Took me almost a year to get to a point where I stopped feeling exhausted by 1pm.

 

I serve in the armed forces. Studied a finance minor in college and intended to pursue IB back then, but duty called and I put off those interests.

 

A year of doing this? You do realize this will irreversibly damage your health right?

 

Vel harum rerum excepturi qui aut ut ipsa. Eius distinctio et voluptates ducimus numquam sunt iste. Harum est asperiores corrupti a in recusandae numquam. Dolorum officia quis illum repellat nisi cupiditate laborum. Qui quia voluptate impedit rerum ipsa laudantium inventore necessitatibus.

Quia id in reprehenderit sunt ea rerum rerum. Amet rerum quis provident quidem necessitatibus laborum. Debitis voluptatibus accusantium commodi vitae optio itaque sapiente facilis. Nesciunt et qui veniam voluptas molestiae dolorem. Blanditiis repellat perspiciatis eum dolore id quia numquam tenetur.

Tenetur aut temporibus a praesentium eaque laudantium itaque illo. Totam in eveniet soluta et. Corrupti sunt dolor voluptas occaecati ut maiores. Eveniet voluptatem eaque veniam enim placeat veritatis. Reiciendis officiis commodi consequatur voluptatem labore impedit qui sint. Quae modi voluptas autem.

Exercitationem quo numquam non aliquid voluptatem ipsum ex. Quia soluta molestiae dolor sapiente dicta. Quo quidem iusto quos et aut voluptas et.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.3%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 11 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (44) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (78) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $101
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
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
9
dosk17's picture
dosk17
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...”