Incoming FT IB Analyst at Top BB – How Do I Not Die?
Monkeys,
This summer, I’m officially signing away my soul—starting FT in M&A at a top BB. The group’s known for being a meat grinder (think 100+ hours/week as a warm-up), and I want to max out my stats like it’s the final boss.
That said—how do I not wreck my body, mind, and spirit for the rest of my life? I’m fully aware I’m about to get dumpstered, but I want to come out of this jungle at least semi-functional.
Real talk: how do you survive pulling 2 hours of sleep a night for weeks at a time without losing your testosterone or will to live?
Especially tough for me is waking up—I’m a disaster in the mornings—and falling asleep fast has never been my strong suit either. Combine that with unpredictable fire drills and a caffeine addiction in the making, and you’ve got a recipe for burnout on day 23.
I’m down to invest in anything—supplements, sleep hacks, air purifiers, cold plunges, blood boys, whatever it takes. I just want to know: what actually works to survive the analyst years without ending up broken, bloated, and balding by age 25?
Appreciate any tips from the battle-scarred vets.
Take a deep breath, honestly
No one is pulling 2 hour nights every night for weeks at a time. Do you have all nighters sometimes? Absolutely. Will you get crushed on certain deals? For sure. But unless you're in the final week or two into announcement, every deal will have a slow day or two.
Prioritize sleep and less alcohol on weekends when you're getting killed, even if it means leaving the bar a little early (or not going out at all). If you have a slower day here or there, get to bed early, don't stay up late watching TV.
Try to eat healthy as best as you can - eating out is not only wildly expensive, it's also pretty unhealthy. If you can make an extra large dinner on Sunday night and bring meals in Monday-Wednesday, that's most of your week. Try and focus on vegetables and whole foods over super processed or sugary foods.
Figure out a bedtime routine now that works for you - I take a small dose of melatonin and try to read for 30 min before bed. My work phone does not come into my bedroom at night or I'll check it while falling asleep.
Don't get yourself overly reliant on caffeine - one or two a day is fine but it loses its effect quickly. Knew a guy who had to take medical leave because he gave himself severe stomach ulcers drinking too many energy drinks.
I’m sorry I’m just so sensitive to it now. I believe this is a genuine post but did you ask ChatGPT to help you write it? Lol “Real talk:” “battle scarred vets”
100% AI generated. The overuse of em dashes gives it away
Of course it is, do you think I’ve got time to type out a 300-word cry for help while grinding through the WSO LBO Modeling course at 1AM?
It’s pretty ironic: I used AI to save time and you used your time to point out em dashes.
Honestly, whether it's AI or divine intervention, who cares how it’s written if it delivers?
Efficiency play over here boys, some of us are trying to survive capitalism, not critique punctuation.
You have outsourced writing two paragraphs to an AI, retard. You are def going to have a hard time fs.
I’m sure there is a real person behind this but I have no interest in this AI-ass post. Slop.
Lol guys, didn’t think alleged twenty-something investment bankers could be such drama queens and divas.
You seriously took time out of your day to call out a post on WSO because you suspected it was written by AI? What is this, the Pulitzer committee? No one’s handing out medals for literary purity on an anonymous finance forum.
Imagine thinking you’re too good to reply, but not too good to waste your time to post some sanctimonious crap about “authenticity".
My 65-year-old schoolteacher would've taken it better if I’d submitted ChatGPT-generated homework.
i would recommend learning how to write without the assistance of chatgpt
What if it’s all I use and rely on
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