Games while waiting for setups

Quote from spindr0:

http://www.gamesforthebrain.com/game/colorlines/

It may sound silly but before the reg market opens, sometimes I play a game or two of this (or others) to see how alert I am. If I'm sluggish, I make a mental note to check market decisions 11 times instead of 10 :D
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I don't think it's silly at all. I think many of us have been doing this for so long, it just feels natural being at our desk. And we may think we are focused, but realize we really aren't when the decisions need to be made.

It's best to find that out with a game of freecell or something and make mental adjustments well before your market opens.

BTW, I found this site years ago, but these games definitely do not fall into the category of being able to watch the market while playing them. Probably not a test for focus either, but good clean fun if you need a break.

http://www.allstocks.com/html/java_games_for_stress_relief.html
 
Try to learn a foreign language or another skill you may need in the future. I am learning Chinese now in between trades. There are good online courses. Maybe I go find Jim Rogers there one day.
 
Quote from intradaybill:

Try to learn a foreign language or another skill you may need in the future. I am learning Chinese now in between trades. There are good online courses. Maybe I go find Jim Rogers there one day.
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This is a good idea! I shall start doing that. I'm one of those who trades off bigger time frames and have nothing much to do the whole long day. Learning something new after having mastered trading excites me already.
 
Quote from Vienna:

Any suggestions for good online games in between setups...not so hypnotic that one loses focus, but fun or smart enough to be entertaining...?
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honestly, one should be monitoring every other market...CNBC, Gold, Oil, Grains, Forex...come on...this is trading not nintendo...I hope this helps!
 
Thanks for the suggestions!!

In regards to scanning other markets, I'd rather not...I only need 1 or 2 good setups in the morning between 8-11:30, less is more...I watch 2 markets.

Think about it:
8 trades total per week
4W/4L
Winners are 2x size of losers
Risk 10 ticks, target 20 ticks
Makes 40 ticks per week per lot, more than enough, and eminently doable. You hit better than 50% or better than 2 R winners, you make lots more.

Any more trades than that, I find unnecessarily stressful (I tried it), and then you have 2 trades setting up simultaneously or right after each other and end up missing the good one etc.... trading takes psychological energy....so the goal is NOT working harder.. but keeping the mind relaxed but alert between setups....hence the games.....will check out the ideas.
 
Quote from tomahawk:

Exactly. I watch and trade basically 5 different futures markets. No I don't catch every setup in each one, but I prefer to wait for the most ideal setups to trade. So having a handful of markets to watch gives me ample opportunity to find ideal setups, in addition to keeping me plenty busy when any one market is dead.
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Good pooing (looking for the best ones only)...5 are too many for me though, am looking at too much info on each chart. I can do 2 right now, perhaps 3 at one point
 
"How do aspirants expect to make consistent profits in their chosen market if they do not study the characteristics of their market every day from open to close, with additional time spent preparing before the market opens and reviewing after the market closes".

- Completely disagree. Work smarter not harder. Trade less.



"If you trade on such a long timeframe that trade decisions are generated infrequently you may not be making the most of your potential. For those with limited capital, frequent trading of a volatile market is the most effective way to grow trading capital quickly and with minimal drawdowns. Such trading does not allow for distractions or games during the trading session".

- Don't think so. My experience, most people overtrade not undertrade. Take only the best. I need only 1-3 trades in a morning to make money.

"When you are flat, it is because you do not understand what the market is doing, or you understand that conditions are not right to participate. "

- No. I am flat because I choose not to risk my money when there is no clear direction.

"In the former case you should be working to understand the condition in force, not playing games. In the latter case, you should be working on whether there is structure you could learn to understand and make profit from"

- Not true. When I am flat it is because it is not worth the risk to put my money on the line. Example: low volume such as lunch.. why would I want to trade when all the big guys go to lunch??
 
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