I decided to refresh the batteries and take last week off, however this week I can't get into my trading at all, I seem to have momentarily lost my edge.
How much time do full-time traders take off?
Do you find it hard work clicking straight back into trading mode?
I seem to be trading all the time these days, it's hard work getting the balance right and having a life away from it without disrupting your momentum
Getting The Work Balance Right
Hi LeTiss,
Yes I think I can relate to that.
It's always tempting when you know there's a sports event on, to fire up the PC and think "I'll just make a few quid whilst I watch this.."
I guess it theory, it should be possible to set up a timetable/schedule on Monday morning and then stick to it...so you are not facing too much screen time??
Regards
Peter
Yes I think I can relate to that.
It's always tempting when you know there's a sports event on, to fire up the PC and think "I'll just make a few quid whilst I watch this.."
I guess it theory, it should be possible to set up a timetable/schedule on Monday morning and then stick to it...so you are not facing too much screen time??
Regards
Peter
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oddstrader
- Posts: 344
- Joined: Fri Apr 16, 2010 4:55 pm
Funny i have the same problem when i come back after a few days off - it takes me a couple of days to get back in the groove
I often have the same kind of problem after a long break, though paradoxically I often find that a couple of days off does a wonder of good to my trading. Sounds to me like you haven't lost your edge, rather you've probably lost your competitive edge somewhat. Your competitive edge is rarely spoken about but IMO its crucial. I find myself that its a balancing act where if I trade too many days in a row my competitiveness goes somewhat and frankly I can get sick of the sight of staring at the PC screen and I almost feel I'm kind of turning into a robot. I take quite a bit of time off really, but I have to say I really respect those guys who trade every market including the evening ones, I just couldn't do that! I also think it helps that when you're not trading, especially in the evenings after a trading session, you're doing something completely different to trading and not stuck at the PC or thinking about trading too much. One of the reasons I dont do the really late races is that whenever I have done them I've found it hard to wind down and sleep properly afterwards. But certainly I havent found the magic formula for this, perhaps half of the problem, like in sports, is the expectation that you should always be 100% at the top of the game when perhaps, as a human being, it's just not possible 