Apr 06, 2026

How to Survive the Hours?

Hey guys,

I will start an internship in an EB in Europe soon. I know that it is mostly 9am - 1am flat during the week and I wanted to know if you had general advice (e.g. invest in food supplements, invest in a good mattress, have a walk before going to bed, etc.) to survive such tough hours.

Thanks for your help!

6 Comments

WSO Monkey Bot

2mo

To survive the grueling hours of an EB internship, here’s what the most helpful WSO content suggests:

1. Prioritize Physical Health

Stay Active: Incorporate short bursts of physical activity like HIIT workouts or even pushups at odd hours. Staying physically active helps combat fatigue and keeps your energy levels up.
Healthy Eating: Avoid heavy meals and focus on lean proteins and vegetables. Minimize sugar, caffeine, and alcohol intake to maintain steady energy levels.
Stretch and Move: Get up every 30 minutes, stretch, or take short walks to avoid stiffness and back pain from prolonged sitting.

2. Optimize Sleep and Rest

Power Naps: If possible, sneak in short naps to recharge.
Good Mattress: Invest in a comfortable mattress or even a quality mattress topper to maximize the quality of your limited sleep.
Pre-Bed Routine: Take a short walk or do something relaxing before bed to help you wind down.

3. Mental Resilience

Stay Positive: Remember, the internship is temporary. Keep a stoic mindset and focus on learning and improving.
Avoid Complaints: Don’t complain, even to fellow analysts. Maintain a professional and positive attitude.
Handle Stress: If you’re dealing with rude people, don’t retaliate. A simple “Will do” is often the best response.

4. Build Relationships

Find Allies: Build relationships with 2-3 people who can vouch for you. This can be crucial for reviews and bonuses.
Social Events: Attend social events, but handle your liquor well and know your limits.

5. Stay Organized

Track Your Work: Keep and organize all source data and versions of your work. This will save time and prevent errors.
Learn Shortcuts: Master Excel shortcuts and tools like VBA to work more efficiently.

6. Leverage Breaks

Fresh Air: Take 20-30 minute walks during the day to get sunlight and clear your mind.
Hydration and Snacks: Keep water and healthy snacks at your desk to stay fueled.

7. Long-Term Perspective

Focus on the Goal: Even if you find banking isn’t for you, securing the return offer can open doors to other industries.
Learn and Bond: Use downtime to dig into models, read pitch decks, or bond with other interns.

By following these tips, you’ll not only survive but also make the most of your internship experience. Good luck!

Sources: Vent Some Wisdom to Incoming Analysts/Interns, The Do's and Don'ts for Summer Analyst, Intern Burnout, Considering Full-Time, Getting an S&T Return Offer - A Survival Guide for Future Interns

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

Rover-S

2mo

Most Helpful

First of all, you’ll discover that your body can actually cope with these hours. The associates already do this for 5 years in a row, so don't complain about it.

To name a few tips:

Sleep in on weekends to recover.
Drink plenty of water.
Eat healthy foods, not burgers and fries.
Try to walk at least 30 minutes a day (e.g., to the office in the morning).
During your internship, join ALL office drinks (don't get drunk, don't chase grils/colleagues) and limit drinks with friends. You can still hang out with friends, but reduce alcohol intake if you want to perform at your best.
Don’t waste time on Instagram or similar apps - quit cold turkey and don’t look back.

In the end, you will feel tired at some point. What matters most is delivering high-quality work (efficiency is less important than accuracy and clarity):

Be 110% sure you understand your assignment: what is needed, by when, and in what format. Try to understand how your work fits into the bigger picture.
If you have any doubts, questions, or issues, contact your analyst/associate. Clearly explain the issue and propose one or two possible solutions. Max once a day preferably, don't go over to their desk every hour or so
Print and triple-check your work.
Try to schedule a short meeting to present your work or findings (if possible and relevant).
Overcommunicate about your progress and timelines. Nobody assumes an intern will deliver something right before their own deadline, people build in buffers. As long as you are transparent, others can adapt. In practice: for any task that takes more than one day, provide a progress update by the end of each day. Preferably also inform people if/when you are postponing work of them -> see comment below, this should not happen in principle.
Maintain full oversight of all your outstanding tasks and commitments, and estimate how much time each will take. If someone comes to your desk, you should immediately know what’s on your plate and whether you can take on additional work. If you cannot, be clear about it. Propose that the analyst/associate (not you) coordinates with others who have assigned you work to assess whether deadlines can be adjusted.

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Authored by: Certified Private Equity Professional - DirectorCertified Private Equity Pro

zakholland

2mo

You will eventually grow accustomed to it, but it is undoubtedly difficult. Just avoid using your phone just before bed and make an effort to get as much sleep as you can. When you can, eat healthy meals rather than simply coffee and fast snacks. A small rest or even a short stroll can be quite beneficial for mental clarity.

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Investment Banking Recruiting Guide

Analyst 1 in IB - Cov

2mo

Funnily enough during my internship I found myself scrolling 30-50 minutes every night even if I was on track to have 5-6 hours of sleep.

Terrible habit. Get rid asap.

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designa888

2mo

This is called revenge bedtime procrastination

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enlightenedfinancebro

2mo

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