Trading as your sole source of income can be an extremely stressful endeavor. Unlike most professions, you can actually post a loss on your top line (never mind adding expenses to your losses). As an example, in 2005 my sole source of income was trading equity index options. There were many stressful moments including two losing months. I can remember several hours, glued to the computer screen, hoping the market would move my way. Often during these times, I couldn’t eat, sleep, or even smile for several days. However, after all that stress, I posted a > 80% gain and realized the first year of my dream.

You must deal with stress if you are going to be successful. Success is not easy - as they say “if it was, everyone would do it“. To succeed you must push the envelope, move out of your comfort zone, and take risk. Pretty stressful, huh. But if you can deal with the stress needed to achieve your goals, you will eventually look back on a life to be proud of.

So how do you deal with stress? I’m no expert, but here are some of the habits I’ve developed over the past year.

1. Know where you’re going and your plan to get there.
In the trader’s world, this means a system, a method, or a set of rules. Most successful traders will backtest these rules to gain confidence. If you are not a trader you need to gain confidence in whatever plan you’re executing. Use a mentor, test on a small scale, etc. The key is to believing in the plan that will allow you to succeed over the long term. This confidence will allow you to deal with any temporary setbacks.

As an example, I routinely experience a $1000 loss day in my trading business. Is it fun? No - IT SUCKS! I hate it! Think about what that means if you lose $1000 loss per day for the next 30 days! However, I know I’m following a plan that has served me well over the past 10 years. Losing days happen. In fact, I’m more stressed when I override my plan and do something stupid. When I have a losing day I take solace in knowing I followed my plan.

2 Exercise.
I’m getting better at this. My day usually consists of being glued to watching charts on my computer all day with CNBC playing in the background. When I’m experiencing a losing day I find it helpful to just turn the computer off and go to the gym. I’m fortunate enough to have a bank of TV’s in front of the cardio machines at the gym so I can watch CNBC all day long if I want to. However, I often find myself “getting away” as I exercise, and tuning into something away from work (I love American Chopper). When I return to my desk after a workout I’m always in a better mood.

3. Inject humor in your life.
You have to laugh, and should always love a good joke. Today I was pretty stressed with the market moving against me so I spent some time reading jokes on the internet. I also refer back to #2 and watch the comedy channel while sweating on the elliptical trainer.

4. Participate in a hobby.
Find an interest outside of your work life. Watching birds, golf, collecting stamps, whatever. For me, my two passions are golf (my girlfriend’s parents own a golf course, and if you ever have the opportunity to date someone that can give you free golf - go for it) and poker. Often you will find that small victories away from work will make you happy and clear your head for the next day. I can lose $1000 in a trading session, but have 1 birdie today’s round of golf , I go to bed happy.

5. Interact with loved ones
This should be obvious. Our lives are really about the ones we love. I have an eight year old son and six year old daughter. Recently, my son won a regional tournament in forms for Tae Kwan Do. I was actually in tears as he accepted his trophy. Do you think I cared about my trading account that day? If I ever need a boost, I only need to pick up my daughter, flip her upside down, and give her a “belly squirt” (raspberry on her tummy).
You should always follow two rules when enjoying your loved ones. First, keep your “setbacks” inside unless you are asked to share, and then share completely, and second, always to ask “How was your day today?”

6. Wash your car.
I don’t know what it is, but every time I wash my car I feel great. I drive off, put on my sunglasses, and crank the tunes while driving my “new“ car away. I bought a new car last year, a black Nisson Altima 3.5 SE. No, not a Lexus or BMW, but really fun to drive. To me, there is nothing sweeter than a shiny, black car that moves when you punch it. However, if you own a black car you know they get dingy pretty quick. Frequent washing is the key to “black car ownership”.

Car washing might not be your thing, but there is something to be said about taking care of what you have. Cleaning your desk, tending your garden, painting your house, can all be very therapeutic when trying to deal with stress. These activities make us “stop and smell the roses” and appreciate our accomplishments. Enjoying the ride reminds us of why we put all this stress upon ourselves to begin with.

So there it is, a traders prospective on stress management . I work in a stressful profession, but still love getting up every day and turning on that computer to start my work day. If you feel stressed, embrace it! It shows you’re moving out of your comfort zone and will have a better future. The key is to find your own way to deal with stress and build a better life.

Hi nhtrader,

Changing what you can change and letting go of what you cannot change is a common stress management technique. This is incorrect as if we as human beings fail to stand up for what we believe then we are heading for more stress than what we can tolerate.

Life is fair, the problem is people are unreasonable; therefore, we are looking at a wealth of stressors and stress. You are in the process of meeting stress at its limits, if you are sitting around waiting for others to control your life then.

The system often makes it difficult for us to cope with the many stressors we endure daily. Learning stress management techniques that can help us deal with life and the many people in the world is the only solution we have to be successful.

We need to learn how to take time out of each day to take care of self-allowing us room to handle our responsibilities. We need tools for socializing with the people in society, including effective communication.

If we are set up with the right tools, our stress management scheme will lead us to great results. Finally, stress and humans we cannot avoid them, but we can take control of our life.

http://www.selfhelpzone.com/category/stress-management/

David.

good thread, and this is one that everybody on this forum should be looking at...as stress is probably the #1 factor in a persons overall being

think about it...stress affects your weight, mood, physical well-being, immune system..pretty much every single part of your life

For me..I like to

1) sit outside with a cup of green tea and read
2) Exercise daily..well 6 days a week
3) Deep breathing when I first wake up, while i'm exercising, throughout the day at various times, and especially when I feel stressed..this probably helps the most
4) See my girlfriend and talk with her about whatever's stressing me out
5) Watch "Friends" the season b/c its my favorite thing that ever came out on TV :)
6) Once in awhile take a nice hot bath

Hi Reevso,

I am adding one more

Music and dance.

Let the music take you in and keep you until you feel you got it all under control. If you like to dance then by all means, do so. Since you are exercising the body and mind, dancing is great stress relief technique. Dance the night away if you choose, just do not forget that you have obligations and loose track of the time.

Rest is also an important stress relief technique. You have the floor so hold it like it is gold. You belong in this world of fantasy, fun and illusion. The sound is pounding in your head de-voiding you of any thoughts that causes your stress to override the night.

David.

Hey David,
You make very valid points about music and dance. In my culture (Native American) we sometimes dance for days.

Dance is a major stress reducer. It is good not only for the mind and body, but for the Spirit as well.

What kind of music to you listen to in order to reduce your stress?

Looking forward to your post, KAT

What kind of music do you listen to in order to reduce your stress?

Hey Kat,

Well Kat I am not into any specific music, I just feel the rythm and dance its not the sound its feel.

David.

David,
Thanks for your post.
Personally I listen to a variety of music.
KAT

Problems are going to exist and learning to accept the problems as they come our way can help us to reduce our stress. We all have our share of problems without having to worry about all the problems that the system brings us. We all have some Common problems include family stressors, relationships stressors, financial obligations, and so forth.

We frequently learn how to manage with our stress while growing, but some of us missed out on the benefits of full development. We have wars, crime, poverty, and other stressors that make it difficult to think positive, therefore, we need to learn stress management techniques that help us to manage with stress by reducing the stressors.

We can do this by making good decisions, practicing healthy tasks, eating healthy foods, exercising, and avoiding negative stressors that present a risk to us.

We know most of us have no control over political ritual and other wars, since society will often sit down and wait for others to handle the major problems in life and alone we cannot protest the troubles.

David.

Instant Stress Relief with Diamonds and Rubies
Stress has taken a toll on us
We cannot cope, there seem to be too much to do...
Our confidence eroded with the question “What if....?”
We feel tired.. could it be mental .. could it be physical

Physical exhaustion usually comes after mental “GIVE UP”

Now gives you Instant Stress Management Techniques to boost your energy instantaneously. It takes no effort.

You must have friends who believe in the same mental projection.
Tell your friend “ I am going for an interview and I am full of butterflies. I need this job badly.

Please send me some Rubies and Diamonds at 11.00 am this Thursday.”
At 11.00 am, on Thursday, your friend will mentally send you some Rubies and Diamonds for a few seconds and let go.

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This technique requires no effort. Together with you and the thoughts of your friend have magnified your energy by million folds just by the few seconds of alignment. The more friends you have sending you the energy, the effect is exponential. It just WOW!

Instant Stress Relief with Diamonds and Rubies
Stress has taken a toll on us
We cannot cope, there seem to be too much to do...
Our confidence eroded with the question “What if....?”
We feel tired.. could it be mental .. could it be physical

Physical exhaustion usually comes after mental “GIVE UP”

Now gives you Instant Stress Management Techniques to boost your energy instantaneously. It takes no effort.

You must have friends who believe in the same mental projection.
Tell your friend “ I am going for an interview and I am full of butterflies. I need this job badly.

Please send me some Rubies and Diamonds at 11.00 am this Thursday.”
At 11.00 am, on Thursday, your friend will mentally send you some Rubies and Diamonds for a few seconds and let go.

You will feel mentally aligned, focus and confident. You will know what you really want and get what you ask for.


This technique requires no effort. Together with you and the thoughts of your friend have magnified your energy by million folds just by the few seconds of alignment. The more friends you have sending you the energy, the effect is exponential. It just WOW!

WHAT? lol :hmm:

For me the best way to manage stress is to manage my life properly, thereby eliminating the stress factor. Instead of me creating an extraordinary life, ove the past year, I have been letting life manage me and my time (you know, the "volunteer fireman syndrome" being pulled in six different directions - five of which I did not want to go). Living that way causes enormous stress.

I am listening to (and following the techiniques) Tony Robbins "Time Of Your Life". It has helped me make a massive change in my thinking and has given me the tools to focus on what really matters to me and take my life back. I highly recommend it.

Tony Robbins is great. I haven't listened to any of his audios but "unleash the giant within" was amazing

I might hafta check out the one you recommended

I forget if anybody mentioned this, but if you're feeling stressed out, just SMILE. It helps deactivate some of the brain areas that lead to stress

That also works if you get hurt by the way. Smiling actually helps to reduce pain b/c pain is a very emotional process and actually involved like 3 different areas of your brain that carry out emotional roles

I forget if anybody mentioned this, but if you're feeling stressed out, just SMILE. It helps deactivate some of the brain areas that lead to stress

That also works if you get hurt by the way. Smiling actually helps to reduce pain b/c pain is a very emotional process and actually involved like 3 different areas of your brain that carry out emotional roles

Yes! That works too. One giant crazy smile for a minute or two - if you can laugh while you're doing it - that's even better! You can't be stressed or angry or sad when you are smiling and laughing - its physiologically impossible!

That's true..i forgot to add that

I've noticed something in the past few weeks actually. I used to be a person that would almost NEVER get stressed out. However, i've noticed that the older I get, the more easily I get stressed out. Anyone know why that is? I'm thinkin maybe it's just because i'm way more busy than I used to be because of my website and trying to get involved in real estate now as well, but maybe there's a physiological change goin on as well lol

I'm one of those people who is fine..then I get stressed to the point where I pretty much get nautious (is that how u spell that? lol) I feel completely fine then it just all hits me at once, it's weird

Hey Reeveso you are an interesting person...thank you for the posts.

Hey Kat how are you doing?

David.

P.S. Sorry everyone I didn't get a chance to post anything these days cos of busy schedule...hope you understand...Cheers