Improving Focus in Investment Banking
Hi all, I just hit the desk (IB, NYC) and have had little trouble with the technical/conceptual difficulty of the work. However, as basic/simple as this may sound, I'd love advice on maximizing focus at work. This is especially relevant in banking, as many of you know, where certain projects seem to drag on endlessly and uselessly, you get little sleep, and often begin zoning off throughout the day. How do you all maintain focus to power through and get the most out of your time at the office?
I already meditate and I drink a substantial amount of tea daily. Looking for specific tips in approaching work, mental training, etc. Not too interested in Adderall suggestions or the like. Thanks!
In no specific order:
workout in the morning prior to work
eat a balanced breakfast
arrive 30-45 minutes before peers to prioritize work streams, get a handle of your schedule and begin work uninterrupted
consider an alternative to green tea such as coffee
keep meals light throughout the day; stay hydrated; if buying lunch, purchase outside of building in order to force activity and fresh air
take advantage of opportunities to walk the floor/use standing desk
Lots of great ideas in here in the comments.
You're right on that it's about getting specific to getting your mind focused and absorbed in your work. I found this for myself in banking and the buyside, and it's something I work on a lot with banking and particularly hedge fund clients.
IMO and experience, meditation and other general ideas aren't enough and I agree with you that it's about specific mental training. Just like the gym conditioning your mind for focus.
Over years I've written on these topics a lot and have built specific tools for training focus which you can get free on my site. These are some of the solutions:
this article is specifically on mental conditioning.
this audio recording is a tool I built called the house of flow which is designed specifically for what you are seeking—how do you at will put yourself in a flow state for getting deeply focused and absorbed
this research report we wrote in our consulting firm is for traders who want to approach their trading day like a pro athlete and it's loaded with processes and tools for optimizing energy and focus, etc.
on my site you'll also find other stuff on these topics but these 3 are most specific to your goal of quickly training focus