very obsessed. It's my life's work. You have to have things to do socially, physically & mentally outside of trading to get some sort of balance. You have to learn to relax in the uncertainty, it becomes easier with more capital imo.
...I wouldn't say I'm "obsessed" with the market, but I do spent a significant amount of time watching and studying and following it and trading it. Successfully trading is not like just going out to watch a movie, and forgetting about it -- there's prep or conditioning work outside of normal trading hours as well. Nothing necessarily wrong being 'obsessed' with a money making endeavor -- if someone was obsessed with video games or porn, then that's another ill story
Unless you spend christmas day going and talking to some1 about investing like nicholas cage did in family man you can't really say you are obsessed
In the beginning I studied market formulas (ie. custom and non-custom indicators) full-time for at least a year, any hour of the day. That was obsessed, and it didn't lead me to anything profitable, but established tools later. As I got break-even, I'm relaxing more and focusing my energy on the most crucial aspects I currently working on. Now actually postponing lesser important aspects for later, but that's more to do it's much less outstanding items and much more clarity on what the deal is. When I plan to eventually scale up, less and less obsession with actual trading will be required. But, I obsess alot with philosophy about trading and about life, as an interconnected system. For instance this morning, I realized a question more profound than 5 Successfactors for your next "project":
My mind never really shuts off when it comes to trading. It's not any extra effort on my part, it just happens on its own. Ideas can come to me while watching t.v., showering, laying in bed, or having boring conversations...sometimes during sex (just kidding). Other than that, I spend a lot of the day studying charts, concepts, financial opinions on the net (for investing), and watch financial programs on the tube.
Totally agree that balance is important. My kids keep me in balance, along with exercise and beer socials. Have to admit that ideas hit me all the time when doing these activities. Yes, I'm obsessed!
Month ago I went totally automated, first couple weeks was jitterly, but now I check prices 3 times a day. But no longer obessed, it just numbers game, make more than you lose.