IB is ruining my dating life

Single guy living in a big city. Pretty much living the dream in terms of a nice place and money to show for it as an Analyst. But I’ve been working 80+ hours week for the past few months, common to see where it’s firmly into 100+. 

For me, the issue isn’t finding the time to date. I can do that on a Saturday. Scheduling dates is super easy and texts are easy to start with. The issue is when these chicks want to go further, I don’t have the mental energy to reply. My mind on the desk can’t be anywhere else other than the work. And to me, lowkey, texting these chicks is exhausting, especially if you have a roster (maintaining one is fkin difficult) 

I’m using up all of my bandwidth trying to survive so I always get “you reply too long or you cancel our second / third date”. One time a girl straight up told me you clearly don’t have time to be in a relationship. Brutal.

What do I do bros? Fucking hell girls nowadays need 24/7 spoon fed attention. A guy can’t go a few days without texting without them thinking its over or something


 

15 Comments
 

Brother, if you can’t even send a few text messages, you gotta ask yourself how bad you even want to be with a woman right now. We’re really scraping bottom of the barrel here. 

You also aren’t working 80-100 hours a week even if you’re in the office 80-100 hours a week. You have time to send a flirty text or two or ask someone how their day went, even if it’s while you’re taking a shit. 

If you care to, that is. No shame if you don’t. But usually if I’m complaining about putting forward the bare minimum of effort into something, it’s because I don’t want to do that thing, not because the bare minimum is hard or time consuming. 

Commercial Real Estate Developer
 

Thanks man and @Bankofblooby762.

I guess to me, it isn’t the time part but the mental aspect. Like you need to think about what you’re going to text, right? That takes a bit of mental energy. 

But after expending that on the desk, the last thing I want to do is use my brain even further. I want to switch it off when I get the chance. 

Maybe I need to look into automating the texting part? Or maybe it just takes a bit of discipline and not viewing it the way I am currently. 

 

kakugen

Like you need to think about what you’re going to text, right? That takes a bit of mental energy. 

Hangover Math GIFs | Tenor

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

Second what CRE said. If you can't text back in good time, then do you really want them that much?

A gf would usually be expecting a lot more than 1 text a day and 1 date a week. Unless you find a girl who is understanding of your job, then there's not much point getting a gf who's gonna inevitably leave you when she feels you're not investing enough.

 

I know this is meant jokingly, but based on what OP writes it genuinely seems like he doesn't care about the girls he's talking to at all. That to me suggests strong narcissism, which is really unattractive to girls who value themselves but is tolerated by nacissistic and needy women. 

 
Most Helpful

It’s a bit disheartening to see how social media glamorizes the “finance bro” culture, and even more so when both young professionals and those well into their 30s seem to buy into it.

I started my career in M&A, and one of the biggest lessons I carried forward actually came from outside the office - while dating. Asking genuine questions, listening actively, paying attention to details, even small gestures - those are the things that build meaningful relationships.

As you move up in your career, especially at the Director level and beyond, the same principles apply. Technical skills matter, of course, but what truly sets leaders apart are listening skills, empathy, and the ability to offer thoughtful insights. That’s what sustains long-term success, both professionally and personally

 

"What do I do bros? Fucking hell girls nowadays need 24/7 spoon fed attention. A guy can’t go a few days without texting without them thinking its over or something"

i feel sorry for your girlfriend

 

Roster? So you're not trying to date, you're getting needy chicks who see you're successful and are willing to hookup. While I never did the IB hours, I did do S&T, and that was during some of the craziest periods in markets. I've done 70-80 hour work weeks. Never once did I find myself neglecting my then fiancé. 

The girls you're getting that need attention 24/7 are needy girls. If you want to find girls that aren't needy, there's plenty of them, but most wouldn't put up with 80-100 hour work weeks, nor being another slot on your roster. 

Honestly, I don't even text most of the day. With my wife, we start mornings together, and we end evenings together, but we basically never text in the middle of the day. It's almost always been this way, bc I have shit to do and so does she. Even when we were dating, I still only texted her to meetup and go out, basically never just to text. So if you want that kind of a dynamic, you have to find a girl who is also somewhat equally busy and hardworking, and not needy asf. 

 

To summarize things 

  1. Why on earth are bankers still working those long hours when they have AI?
  2. Idk exactly what you mean by these girls texting you all the time but really they just might feel comfortable enough with you but in a you’re a good friend kinda way. Women, no matter the age or experience or success in their careers, love to yap. It’s just how they like to express level of trust and comfort with someone. But don’t confuse that with them being interested in you romantically or sexually.
  3. IME when women are needy they don’t actually text or talk to you often. They play kinda coy then start to slip in asks or start hinting at things that’s missing in their lives or at the moment. Actually needy women charm you first then start making demands. And when you question their behavior or express some concern they reply with something they don’t like about you instead of responding thoughtfully. We call this gaslighting and men who succumb to gaslighting women are forever doomed. Better ask her values and then try to put her in situations that demonstrate those values before you get fully charmed. Also, always wear protection if you aren’t trying to put a ring on it. Trust me I’ve made enough mistakes with women who are the wrong kinda crazy.
  4. Are you sure your list isn’t on a dating app? That doesn’t count bro 
When in doubt, use more peanut butter
 

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