Reigniting the Flame after Burnout

Markets felt like a relentless storm—volatile, unpredictable, and exhausting. Every day brought new challenges, and as an analyst, I was expected to guide my portfolio managers with confidence, even when I was drowning in uncertainty. The pressure was crushing: long hours, sleepless nights, and the guilt of missing precious moments with my young kids. I told myself to push harder, but the truth was, I was running on fumes.

The Signs Were There
I’ve always loved the intellectual thrill of investing, but suddenly, I found myself bracing before each workday, dreading what fresh chaos awaited. Instead of thinking strategically, I was stuck in reactive mode—constantly putting out fires. Even the debates I used to enjoy now felt like battles I had to psych myself up for. My energy was gone, my focus scattered. And my solution? Work harder. 

It didn’t help.

How I Started Refuelling
The first step was admitting I was burnt out—not weak, just human. I realized I wasn’t just reacting to the markets; I was reacting to my own exhaustion. So, I made small but critical changes:

• Shifting my mindset: I started to work on how I reacted to volatility. I stopped chasing every headline and focused on what truly mattered. It wasn’t about ignoring the noise; it was about controlling how loud I let it get.

• Cut the noise: I stopped checking my Bloomberg multiple times a day —it kept me in a state of panic.

• Protected my time: I carved out one non-negotiable hour a day to do something I enjoyed, even if it wasn’t "productive."

Burnout isn’t a flaw—it’s a signal. Many of us go through it (even if we don’t talk about it). And most importantly, sustaining success isn’t about burning out—it’s about keeping the flame alive.