Small Changes That Make A Huge Difference

Recently, I have been interested in small changes that make a huge difference to your life..anyone got suggestions?

A few of mine are:

-stopped eating sugar - was addicted. Now I feel unbelievable

-set up a direct debit from current account to an investment account every month.

 

A few tips: -further master your diet - the healthier you eat, the better you feel. Try using a food log app like myfitnesspal. If you want to start smaller, you can try only eating unhealthy foods that you truly love and enjoy. -workout regularly (at least 3x/week) -save at lest a few minutes for mindfulness each day (i.e. meditation or simply introspection) -keep a to-do list with due dates -spend at least a few minutes each day doing something that makes you smile and/or laugh

 

check out mizzen+main....on the front page of the 'fashion forum' there is a performance shirt discussion on them and a few other brands...highly highly recommend them. Thread: https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/best-performance-dress-shirt

If you are like me you travel sometimes, sleep over at someone's house, go to the gym before, forget to put laundry on hangers immediately after cleaning, etc. All of these are a huge pain when trying to look sharp for work. Having something like mizzen+main is a huge help. Everyone knows that brooks brothers or whatever other brand that is 'non iron' doesn't help all that much.

 
  1. write down your goals, when youll accomplish them, why it matters (most important part. you usually have to ask why 5-7 times to get to the real why)

  2. you can hate your boss or your job or your company, but don't hate yourself for trying to improve, even when you fail. we are all beginners at some point.

  3. schedule margin into everything. it will keep your cortisol levels from killing you.

 

Can second number 1. I quit drinking soda a few years ago (besides the occasional mixed drink) and feel great, a couple friends have done the same. Number 3 can really help too, especially if you're working on a side project (CFA, etc.).

 

1 - Buy 1 good quality more expensive item over 10 cheaper lower quality items (apply to clothes, furnishings, trips etc) it will last longer and save you stress.

2 - BUY A HAND STEAMER - you can get them for $20, so much quicker than an iron for shirts etc and will make them last longer - seriously the best advice I can give you.

3 - Invest in a planner (i like the paper planner personally as the physical presence of it reminds me to use it - but also use apple/google cal etc if that works for you)

4 - Keep your network alive - I have a folder on my laptop with email templates for my network. Every 6-8 weeks I will email old bosses and contacts basically (a more formal version than my example) saying "hey, how are you doing? whats new?" or "Hey, I recently read XYZ, thought you would be interested."

5 - Keep a goals list - this is in my planner (see above).

6 - It is my goal to eat sugar, really admire people who can do it, but its not always realistic for everyone, you have to start somewhere and for now, i focus on these two things: 1. Eating "clean" foods, if i don't know what an ingredient is without the help of google, I don't eat it... like what is Xanthan gum!?! No thanks and 2. trying (and sometimes failing) to eat 5 portions of vege and 2 fruit a day. Fills you up, stops you eating crap as you are full, doesnt make you feel like you eat less.

7 - Be active - I didn't do exercise for a while and it seriously alters your mental health... healthy body, healthy mind and all that crap.

8 - Invest in a good bed!! Good sleep = productivity. Good bed = less medical problems in the future, trust me a bad back is expennnnsive.

  1. Take yo vitamins. Omega-3 , Vit D and Vit B are the best for me. Whole foods (and amazon) do a really good magnesium powder drink (Magnesium lemon or cherry fizz) that stuff with hot water every day SERIOUSLY makes you feel great.

I also really champion mindfulness which someone mentioned earlier. It helps de-stress but can also be really helpful to make you more productive and focus. If you are a beginner, try Headspace app - its not for everyone, but those who it works for, seem to love it!

 

At the beginning of the year I started keeping track of every expense in excel. Feel like I live the exact same life, but my monthly credit card bill has decreased significantly and I'm eating healthier. Really doesn't take that long to do, simple database with enough details so you can pivot out easily.

Call your family once a week. I'm from the west coast, but with face time I get to see and talk to my family every Sunday night.

Say no to dad bods and drag your ass to the gym at least 4 times a week.

There are supplements for literally everything. Scientists are smart people, you'd be dumb not to take them.

Rub one out daily.

 

My general physician has over 5,000 patients. Says I am by far the healthiest he has.

Think of me as a skinnier version of Michael Phelps. Perfect specimen of a homo sapien.

No dessert. No alcohol. No smoking. No drugs.
When food shopping, a good rule of thumb is to ask yourself- "would a caveman have access to this?" "is it naturally occuring/minimally processed?"

my only weakness is (without contact lenses), I'm more blind than a senile koala bear :(

 

Fapping it before heading to her apartment at 2AM.. nothing worse than the post sex regret after banging a fat chick. It's incredible how level headed one thinks after letting go of a nice load.

We're not lawyers. We're investment bankers. We didn't go to Harvard. We Went to Wharton!
 
  1. Keto diet. No carbs, so obviously no added sugar, but also no bread/rice/pasta and no sugary fruits as well. Most of your energy should come from fat. I started this for weight reasons but it's really helped with maintaining stable energy levels throughout the day too.
  2. Document how you spend your time. I do it in an excel spreadsheet where I note down what activities I do each hour. It's helpful for identifying how you are wasting your time and how you could do better.
  3. Good posture. Having good posture (shoulders back, neck and back straight) will make you instantly look more attractive and you also won't have to deal with sore muscles at the end of a workday as often.
 
Best Response
  • Proper Diet: Your physique is heavily dependent on your diet. Meal prepping, watching what you eat, and knowing when you can splurge will result in a better body. When you look good, your clothes fit better, you feel better, and life in general is easier and more enjoyable.
  • Regular Exercise: I workout 4-5 days/week pretty regularly, but you can keep yourself looking very respectable on 2-3 days in the gym, especially if your diet is good. Most people, at least the ones I see around my building, do not take care of themselves very well. With minimal effort, you can be in better shape than 80 or 90 percent of folks. Exercising, combined with a good diet, will leave you with much more energy and in turn you will be much more productive.
  • Posture: Mentioned by other user(s) previously, good posture can save you a lot of pain and trips to the chiropractor. Sit up straight, get your monitors to eye level, and think about a standing desk if you'd like. Few things in life are as miserable as back pain.

  • Whiteboard (or any to-do list): In grad school I bought a whiteboard for sketching out ides for writing. I still use the whiteboard now for writing down to-do lists of tasks I have to do the next day. Any method such as a notebook or spreadsheet will do, but the whiteboard is extremely convenient.

 

Mainly for those with very limited free time:

  • Dedicate some time to whatever makes you happy: whether it's reading a book, calling your significant other, catching up with family, or watching tv...allocate 20 minutes before bed-time to whatever makes you happy

  • Exercise: even 10 minutes of daily exercises in the morning make a huge difference; buy one of those Apps that guide you through 7-to-10 minutes workouts

  • Stop drinking alcohol during weekdays: it makes you sleep better and more productive the morning after

  • Put things in perspective: even though IB/Consulting jobs are stressful and high-intensity, no one ever died because of a modelling fuck-up or for delivering bad quality documents; I'm not performing a surgery on anyone and this thought kind of helps to keep my sanity

 

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