I just got back from a 2 week vaction where I traded very little, 2 hours instead of the normal 8-9. I never realized how much energy trading takes out of you. It doesn't seem that bad while I'm sitting there, but when I get home I just crash. Anyone else experience this?
I cannot watch the market all day any more. It doesnt wear me out physically but it does mentally. I just tune in around key times during the day and see if anything looks interesting. I had a bad problem overtrading. This has helped a lot and my trading is actually better.
I did get exhausted regularly before. For me, I would find it extremely difficult to code the kind of trading I do as it incorporates price vol data that can be rather fuzzy, so the discretionary aspect has to remain constant until I expand my knowledge.
Day trading got under my skin after a while. Staring at quotes and the tape all day is not easy for someone who has trouble concentrating for extended periods. Plus I have always had terrible depression that is triggered in a pretty direct fashion from a succession of quick losses, so those two factors made scalping exhausting, regardless of the profits. Nothing is worth that kind of lifestyle as far as I am concerned. I know others who are fine with it. I'd prefer the lower risk of intraday only though if I could drill a few holes in my brain in the right places.
trading is mentally draining, especially when you are holding large positions and they're not going your way.
im working on trading less, taking more breaks and cutting out early altho i find trading can be addictive...