Health/Athletics During Career

TLDR: Got an internship in AM. Need advice from apes on how to find time to pursue my hobby of picking things up and putting them down. 

I got a job as a summer analyst in AM at a BB (insert self-aggrandizing paragraph about breaking in from a non-target that will be shit on by apes in IB). Outside of work and school, I like to train for powerlifting (squat, bench, and deadlift). I love the sport and community, but going forward, I won't be able to build my life around my training schedule the way I have been able to in college. I also will need to balance personal relationships.  

Have any of y'all managed to have consistent time slots where you are able to train for health or athletics in AM or similar industries? Or do you need to exercise around inconsistent work schedules? I'm interested in knowing where you find time. Historically, I have trained 5 times per week for about 1.5-2.5 hours per session. I think I can drop that down to 4 days per week with a relatively low impact on my performance. I also care a lot about getting enough time to sleep. 

There is a gym with nice powerlifting equipment close to my office so my commute won't be bad. 

Have any of you been able to put significant portions of your time into hobbies without it taking away from your career and social life? Will I need to grow up and realize that life is a series of compromises?

Any other advice on how to maintain a healthy lifestyle in finance would be appreciated. 

4 Comments
 

Based on the most helpful WSO content, here are some insights and advice on maintaining a healthy lifestyle and balancing hobbies with a demanding career in finance:

Balancing Health and Career:

  1. Prioritize and Schedule:

    • Time Management: Realize that time is a precious resource. Allocate your time in a way that improves you both professionally and personally.
    • Consistent Time Slots: Some professionals have managed to find consistent time slots for training. It’s about making it a priority and scheduling it like any other important meeting.
  2. Adjust Training Frequency:

    • Flexible Training: You mentioned historically training 5 times per week for 1.5-2.5 hours per session. Reducing this to 4 days per week can still be effective. Adjust your training intensity and volume to fit your new schedule.
  3. Utilize Nearby Facilities:

    • Convenient Gym Access: Having a gym with powerlifting equipment close to your office is a significant advantage. Utilize this to minimize commute time and maximize your training efficiency.
  4. Balance with Personal Relationships:

    • Social Life: Maintaining friendships and personal relationships is crucial. Make sure to allocate time for social activities and rest. This balance can prevent burnout and improve overall well-being.

Insights from WSO Threads:

  • Work-Life Balance: Many professionals emphasize the importance of work-life balance. It’s about finding a job you enjoy and a life you’re happy with. More free time doesn’t necessarily equate to happiness; it’s about how you use that time.
  • Productive Use of Time: Find productive uses of your time outside of work. This can include hobbies, exercise, or other activities that make you feel accomplished and fulfilled.
  • Health and Fitness: Some professionals have struggled with maintaining fitness due to long hours. However, prioritizing exercise and making it a non-negotiable part of your routine can help maintain physical health.

Practical Tips:

  • Set Clear Goals: Have specific goals for your training and personal life. This can help you stay focused and motivated.
  • Be Flexible: Understand that there will be times when work demands more of your time. Be flexible and adjust your schedule as needed.
  • Sleep and Recovery: Prioritize sleep and recovery. This is crucial for both physical performance and overall health.

Conclusion:

Balancing a demanding career in finance with personal hobbies and relationships is challenging but achievable. It requires prioritization, time management, and flexibility. By setting clear goals and making health a priority, you can maintain a healthy lifestyle while advancing in your career.

For more detailed discussions and advice, you can explore the following threads on WSO: - https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/investment-banking/ib-midlife-cri…</a">IB midlife crisis at 23… please help - https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/investment-banking/why-are-we-obs…</a">Why are we Obsessed with "Work/Life Balance"? - https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/investment-banking/reflecting-on-…</a">Reflecting on my Investment Banking Experience: Lessons Learned

Good luck with your internship and training!

Sources: Why are we Obsessed with "Work/Life Balance"?, Is work life balance really worth it when you are young?, Why are we Obsessed with "Work/Life Balance"?, Work/Life Balance - Hours, Reflecting on my Investment Banking Experience: Lessons Learned

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

1 - Ur in AM so you won’t be working much
2 - if you think you need 1.5-2.5 hours to do a workout you’re not working out correctly.

 
Most Helpful

Not in the same industry but routinely spend 12-16 hours a day in the office. Also into powerlifting. I’ve found success with the following:

- Going to the gym early in the morning.

- Breaking up my sessions during the week to keep them 1hr. Specific to powerlifting, on some days I’ll just do my main exercises (bench, deadlift, squat) and maybe 1-2 accessories. Then another day where I just do accessory work, if I can fit it in. 
- Saving long sessions for the weekend where I generally have more flexibility. 
- Moving away from a weekly schedule. Instead of trying to fit all of my workouts into one week, I move through them as I am able to. I usually have at least one interruption a week so it ends up being more of a 10-day cycle. 
- In order to make the above work (breaking up workouts, 10-day cycle), I focus on doing X exercises for X sets per cycle, instead of having set workouts. So my workout structure can vary week-to-week. For example, one Sunday I may do a full workout with squat main sets and 4-6 accessory exercises, but then my schedule for the next week gets thrown off and the next time I’m set to do squats falls on a Tuesday. For that Tuesday session I’ll just do the main squat sets and a couple accessories then do the rest of the accessories on Wednesday or Thursday.
- If I’m in a crunch for time, just doing the minimum effective volume. Something is better than nothing. 
- Being diligent on diet. I’ve found that if I hit my protein levels I can maintain muscle mass / body comp / strength for a good amount of time without working out.

 

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