I came across an article recently about a 24 year old grad in Japan that killed herself. She was working at Dentsu was halved, and her workload doubled. I thought about some of my time in finance roles, and some of what she wrote resonated.
"It's 4 o'clock. My body is trembling. I just can't do this. I'm gonna die. I'm so tired."
"My boss told me I have no femininity. 'Don't come to work with that messy hair and those bloodshot eyes.'"
"Every night I can't sleep because I'm terrified of tomorrow arriving."
Before she killed herself she wrote the following note:
"Thank you, Mum, for everything you've done for me. Please don't blame yourself."
In response, the government fined Dentsu $6k, and passed a law limiting overtime hours to 100 hrs OT per month. However this is still 20% more than what researchers suggest can be life-threatening (>80 hrs/month above the 40 hrs of 'normal' office hours).
Moreover there is no laws requiring companies to monitoring OT.
Of course the flipside is that we're all adults, and that we choose our professions. In her case, maybe this is par-for-the-course in Japan, where every company works employs like rented mules and many of them die as a result. But in US, we have options. and can always leave IB.
I guess I'm just curious how you all cope, and how the heck can one move up one's efficiency so stuff like this doesn't happen.
The answer is life work balance. One can spend a day or two up all night at a time and healthily recover in body and mind, but you can't burn your midnight oil every night, its unsustainable even with cocaine.
Stress levels need to be in check and can be maintained with healthy coping mechanisms. A support system must be in place for friends and family to be there during hard times. If there is still an unbalance in the mind, chemical and behavioral therapy can bridge the gap to healthy living.
Its all about staying ahead of the curve in terms of life stressors and things that unbalance your personal zen. Spiritual practice and meditation or personal reflection can also be of help in keeping stability.
Couldn't agree more.
Part of the answer too is having the balls or stature to enforce work life balance on your environment. I'm sure that's much harder for an IB analyst to pull off, but at some point you have to push back against the 24/7 eternally connected work culture.
stress can take a physical toll as well (know a few bankers with stress induced tinnitus)
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As I don´t yet suffer under so much pressure as many people in banking, I have to say, 20 push-ups in the morning, a bit of stretching and a few Qigong exercises really suffice. Also, a beer a day keeps the stress at bay - old proverb. And lastly, don´t forget to pump those numbers up.
And if everything fails, Dr. Hoffmann's Ole´ Reliable has to work overtime on the weekends.
Unrelated, but you seemingly have quite the fetish for all things Asian
he is asian and has spent his career there...so yeah
if i understand correctly, he has an asian wife with muscular legs.
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