How do you deal with the isolation of trading by yourself? I’ve been trading futures solo for a few years, and it is starting to drive me crazy a bit. Chat rooms end up a bit useless if not talking about the same approach, forums seem stuck somewhere between active and dead and full of cynicism, and most people outside of the computer don’t understand what you do. The community feels fractured all over the place. In such a high-stress but often solo profession, how do you think this could be better?
Do you want to make big money in your pajamas or do you want to work in a cubicle (after a stressful 90 minute commute) with 100 annoying co-workers for some greedy boss who will pay you just enough to get by and treat you like dirt? Come on.
Be appreciative of the work freedoms you have. Go back to the 9-5 grind for a while and then you will see the contrast. You've forgotten how shitty a time-clock is.
Trading suits hermit type people, it takes a hermit to spend years crouching over a computer to understand this game, then you need to be a hermit to once finally sussed the game, rinse and repeat the same type moves. To make it better suggestion; Longer time frames trading helps. I like to think this way, do opposite to the crowd. If the crowd is gravitating toward short term, then go long term. Most young people can't sit still for 5 minutes on concentration, let alone weeks of plotting and holding focus. Which leads to the second suggestion, with a longer term approach it affords the luxury of getting outside, fresh air, exercise, sunlight, more time to socialize.
id also advise to focus on gratitude rather than only seeing the negative. it may sound silly but i even read somewhere that scientifically this will actually change what chemicals are being released in your brain. im also sometimes a social person and realized that i was giving up social interaction in business. however after i did another cost benefit analysis, i came back to my fucking senses pretty quick :O) try more chatrooms, there is an old old saying that 1 person might be a doosh, 2 persons might be a doosh, but if everyone is a doosh... "The community feels fractured all over the place", remember you are part of the community, how you act and react helps or hurts it as well. even on this forum there are all types of discussions and all types of characters, and a ton of discussions and a ton of characters. im not saying its you, but out of all the members and all the discussions you cant find some common ground... try and also find hobbies and other things you enjoy outside of trading. for me i need traders that i can discuss my disgust and they understand but also having other things will help you not get cabin fever. also for me I never ever start discussing trading with normies, it always ends up irritating the fuck out of me just IMHO, thats why again its important for me to have a trading community. remember most normies would trade places with you in an instant if youve been able to provide enough income for your life from trading. best of luck & hope ya feel better
Defo drives you crazy... I know a homeless lad, who's got a brain and free time obviously, hopefully he's getting a flat soon with Wifi so plan is train him up then have him on Face Book messenger live during trade times watching same things and same method, team up, let him trade some of my account after demo his own logon so won't affect mine, keep me sane stop me doing stupid shit and hopefully make him some cash, ie what ever profits he takes. Lifes become a bit, wake up trade UK market, hit the gym over news time, trade US market, repeat!!! ie BORING!!
wow you gotta lotta heart Turveyd! im getting teary eyed over here :O) really hope he changes his life and uses the opportunity you are giving him. also hope he doesnt fak you over man. thats a reason why more people dont wanna help possibly. hope im not being too negative but dont wanna see your kindness wasted either wish both of you the best
Whether you are sharing an office with other traders or trading solo from home, trading is a solitary game. Great for introverts.
This isn't unique to trading. I've been working remotely as a consultant my entire career and there's been several times I've been driven to near insanity by it. I'm an introvert so dealing with isolation is easier. Being an introvert doesn't mean I don't like being social. I just like controlled social environments where I can get my fill and leave. It's exhausting being around people all the time. There are several things I've found help: 1. Put self improvement over everything. If you allow your mind to wander and start thinking of isolation and loneliness depression sets in. Humans are social creatures. This is natural. Instead of feeling depressed channel that into self improvement. That could be working out, learning something new, doing research on whatever you're interested in, etc. Just improving yourself. 2. Make a conscious effort to go meet different people. Likeminded people simply add to the isolation. Especially if you find out they're more social than you. You need external stimulus from people who are not isolated. These people generally seek this out (isolation doesn't work for everyone - several people I've worked with previously found a new job with an office so they weren't alone). The trick to me is to meet people who add to your perspective. Similarly I'd hesitate to hang out with other introverts. It's really easy to get into a "how are you surviving" type scenario which is not useful to anyone. 3. Turn off the news. I regularly shitpost on the politics forum but it's mostly for entertainment. I try to limit the amount of actual news I consume to checking several sites once in the morning and once at night. I've found that this dramatically reduced my stress levels because, much like trading on the 1min vs the 1day, you're not being forced to constantly keep the context of an information firehose in your head. 4. If you have vices - limit them. Overindulgence is not useful and can make the isolation worse.
hasn't facked me over yet, gets my Red Dwarf quotes aswell, which is important, fellow fan. He won't be able to withdraw money, just trade so no real risk, then set up his own account in time, if he's got the passport and stuff to do it these days. Only give him $200 after demo to play with and grow, so 1 bad NQ trade. Doesn't have the I'm better than everyone ego so I won't listen can do better and go my own way and account blown.