Staying Healthy at Sweatshop

I'm an incoming 1st year analyst at a very intense group (90-100/wk avg).

I was thinking of doing a 30 min/day split M-F of strength training/cardio during evening WFH in my apartment/apartment gym while waiting for comments, Saturday 1hr, and walking to/from the office. Surely I can find 30 mins after ~6:30pm on weeknights?

On top of this hoping to stay on top of my diet.

I've gotten very into fitness during the past couple years of undergrad and would like to maintain my progress as much as possible during these 2 years. Does anyone have any advice or has been able to accomplish this or is it simply impossible?

12 Comments
 

Go in the mornings during the week and weekend mornings. You’re at a sweatshop but expecting to be able to leave and workout at 6:30? I would say I’m at a sweatshop and no analyst is leaving at 6:30 to workout, and would certainly raise eyebrows if you head home for the day at 6:30 every day. It’s a balance between sleep and working out. If you to bed at 3:30am and need to be in office on a call at 9:30am, I probably would prioritize sleep that day. If you’re able to get to bed by 12:30, and your first call is at 10:30, that’s a great day to hit the AM sesh

 

From my experience over the summer, analysts who live close to the office leave at around 6:30, get their Seamless order on the way out, and are home within 15 minutes to keep working to 2-3am. Everyone is generally back in the office at 9am the next day. 

Are you able to maintain any workout schedule at your sweatshop?

 

I've always been an AM gym goer - no one is pinging you at between the hours of 7 and 8am (for the most part) and it frees up the rest of your day to focus on work and diet.

I was following my VP who would workout between 8-11pm (1-1.5 hour workouts) for my first few months. During deal sprints I'd find myself answering emails or busting out my laptop at the gym all the time. Overall its team dependent, and if you have seniors into the gym they'll likely support you taking your 1-hour gym sesh.

 

I mean it sounds like you have a solid plan! Finding 30 minutes after work should be doable, especially with the flexibility of working from home. Just make sure to schedule that time like it’s an important meeting. On busier days, be ready to adjust and maybe do a shorter workout. High-intensity sessions can really help you maximize your time. Also, meal prepping over the weekend can make sticking to your diet a lot easier during the week. And definitely listen to your body. If you’re feeling worn out, it’s okay to take a break. A lot of people manage to balance fitness with intense jobs, so just find what works for you. You’ve got this!

 

Don't expect it to be flawless every week, but it is achievable. It's acceptable if you receive 30 minutes on some days and none at all on others. Simple, quick workouts are still beneficial, and walking frequently adds up. Try not to rely solely on takeout and eat well most of the time. Sleep is also more important than most people realize. You may maintain the majority of your success if you remain adaptable and strive for "good enough.

 

Meal prepping for lunch (assuming it's not comped) is also pretty helpful. On Saturday you can get your groceries done and prep something healthy, quick, and cheap. Overnight oats and the ready-made salads from Costco work well for me 

 

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