💭 This Week’s Theme: Health is the Real Productivity Hack
Last week reminded me of something I’d somehow forgotten - when your health dips, everything else follows. The smallest task feels heavy, your focus blurs, and even your best intentions lose momentum.
This week, I finally felt back to 100% after what I can only describe as an excruciatingly painful and tumultuous Sunday evening. My energy returned, my brain switched onto 100% mode again, and suddenly everything felt manageable - even exciting (at times). I’d underestimated how much being healthy shapes not just how you perform, but how you feel about your performance.
In banking, it’s easy to normalise running on fumes - to assume exhaustion is the baseline. But there’s nothing glamorous about operating at half-capacity. Health isn’t the reward for hard work; it’s the foundation that allows you to sustain it. And I’m such a huge advocate for promoting health and wellness in what can be a highly toxic and mentally exhausting industry.
🏦 This Week in Markets - WS Girl View
Markets stay resilient despite ongoing macro uncertainty and the continuous tweets from Trump - issuance volumes remain strong, credit spreads tight, and optimism high. Deal flow is still very much FLOWING, I’m about to launch my third transaction of the month
WSG take: Momentum like this is a gift, but also a test - knowing when to lean in and when to pace yourself is key.Tech valuations cooling slightly after a red-hot summer - investors refocusing on fundamentals.
WSG take: In life and in markets, fundamentals always win. Solid foundations (financial, emotional, physical) make the best long-term investments.Consumer confidence slowly improving - discretionary spending up, especially in lifestyle and travel. Consumer and retail continue to suffer - so girlies make sure you’re buying from your favourite brands!
WSG take: Proof that balance matters. People crave experiences that recharge them - and so should we.
🌿 Life Lately
I’ve been taking a quiet social detox - fewer scrolls, fewer comparisons, more space to think. It’s amazing how much clarity you get when you’re not constantly plugged into everyone else’s highlight reel. It’s also amazing how much money you save from not being sucked into the constant feed of marketing!
That space has also given me room to look inward - not just at health, but at habits. I’ve been reflecting on how I manage my time, energy, and even my finances - what’s serving me, and what needs refining. (More on that next week.)
A little reminder that rest, recovery, and routine aren’t the opposite of ambition -they’re what keep it sustainable… Whilst everyone is different I truly cannot operate at 100 miles and my best consistently
💼 Wall Street Girls Club -The Next Stage
The WSG community continues to grow quietly behind the scenes - think of it as your future toolkit for building success that feels as good as it looks and my future out of Investment Banking
If you’d like to be part of the founding circle, reply “I’m in” and I’ll add you to the list. I see and hear you all
Health, focus, and performance all feed each other. This week, I finally felt the difference - and I don’t want to forget it.
With love,
your favourite Wall Street Girl x
@thewallstreetgirlsclub | @pollyhelvacioglu
