Back to banking?

When I worked in investment banking, long hours were the norm and the concept of a personal life simply didn’t exist. Sadly, I got so used to that lifestyle that it actually seemed normal to me. Everyone else around me was living that way, so it didn’t seem that strange. Each day blended together with the next – in the office at 9am…leave around 2am. Some days were a little better; some days were a little worse. And a good “weekend” consisted of “only” having to work for a portion of each day and actually being able to meet up with some friends for dinner.

Needless to say, my work schedule now is a bit different. The hours are fairly regular and working over the weekend is definitely the exception rather than the norm. That said, the last week has given me flashbacks to my prior professional life. I’ve been staying late every night and even have logged some legitimate weekend time. Fortunately this is a short-term phenomenon, as I don’t think I could manage it much longer. It’s funny…while in banking, I could handle a 4am night with ease, while now I struggle staying past 9pm.

I guess it’s all about expectations and conditioning yourself to your current situation. That said, I definitely wouldn’t want to go back to the “life” that I used to have. Regardless of how much money you paid me…