Jump to content

Welcome to the new Traders Laboratory! Please bear with us as we finish the migration over the next few days. If you find any issues, want to leave feedback, get in touch with us, or offer suggestions please post to the Support forum here.

  • Welcome Guests

    Welcome. You are currently viewing the forum as a guest which does not give you access to all the great features at Traders Laboratory such as interacting with members, access to all forums, downloading attachments, and eligibility to win free giveaways. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free. Create a FREE Traders Laboratory account here.

TimRacette

6 Tips to Feel More Alert and Focused During the Trading Day

Recommended Posts

mBZDkyG.jpg

 

Trading full time can put a strain on your body. Waking in the early hours of the day and keeping your focus throughout the entire session can be a challenge. Here are 6 tips to help you feel more alert and focused during the trading day.

 

1. A Little Caffeine Can go a Long Way[/b]

 

If you've ever found yourself overwhelmed with too many tasks I'm sure you've wanted to know how to concentrate better.

 

Nothing cures that lack of productivity bug like a little caffeine. While I am not a coffee drinker, every so often I do take a shot of espresso or crack open a Pepsi for that extra burst of motivation and energy. Scientific studies do show that caffeine improves focus and concentration. While I wouldn't recommend jumping on the 3 cups a day of coffee a day wagon, every so often it can be the perfect pick-me-up to improve your productivity.

 

2. Why Exercise Benefits the Brain

 

Not only is exercise good for the body physically, it is also a great way to stimulate the brain and boost your mood. After you've finished exercising for 45-mins or so you probably notice you're in an upbeat mood, can think clearly, and generally feel good about yourself.

 

When you do things like go on walks, take part in a sporting activity, or even household choirs like gardening and maintaining the lawn, you are helping your body combat diseases, control your weight and boost your energy.

 

Exercise releases endorphins which are the body's natural feel good chemicals. The body also releases serotonin, dopamine, and adrenalin which help to alleviate stress and keep you in good mental health as you age.

 

3. Feed Your Body Right

 

Garbage in garbage out. Feed your body right and it will reward you.

 

A glass of orange juice or something sweet with breakfast can help boost alertness and mental ability. Pair that with a healthy breakfast of granola cereal, wheat toast, egg whites, and some fresh fruit and you'll be set for the mornings trading.

 

Berries, nuts, whole grains are great snack foods and will keep you going throughout the day. Celery and Almonds are especially good for an added pick me up during the afternoon.

 

For dinner, fish, broccoli, green beans, brown rice, and a glass of milk is a great way to cap off the trading day and keep the body motoring through the week.

 

Most importantly, don't forget to stay hydrated! Water flushes out the body and keeps you healthy.

 

4. Distract Your Mind with Music

 

Listening to music during a mundane or dull task increases our focus and creativity. With soft music in the background, the part of our mind which becomes easily distracted is now occupied with the music.

 

I've found that listening to music without lyrics is most effective. My choice while trading is techno, but I also enjoy jazz and even classical.

 

I urge you to give it a listen!

5. Sleep in 90-min Cycles

While it may be obvious that sleep is important, most people don't realize how much sleep their body actually needs. As we age our bodies require less and less sleep, however your activity level plays a large part in the amount of sleep you need.

 

Sleep helps reduce stress, improves memory, and keeps your heart healthy. An average sleep cycle takes approximately 90-mins to complete. This varies for each person, but not by much, maybe by a couple minutes.

 

Try this exercise...

 

Time your sleep habits for a week. Set your alarm so you wake up just after 6, 7.5, or 9 hours of sleep. This ensures that you've completed a full cycle and aren't waking up in the middle of REM sleep causing you to feel groggy and tired.

 

Give it a try and let me know what you think!

 

6. Bring the Outdoors In

 

Studies show when people live and work in a well lit environment, they are happier, healthier and overall more productive. In addition, cracking a window and letting the sounds of the outdoors into the office is something that I find really enjoyable. Natural light also reduces eyestrain, a vital issue when starring at a computer screen all day long.

 

If you don't have access to natural light, utilize short 5-10 minute walks outside during the day to recharge and alleviate any stress on your eyes. Sitting in a dim lit room on a sunny day is simply no fun.

 

What tips do you have to help stay alert and focused during the trading day?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Caffeine does perk you up but personally I think it leaves you more tired after the effects wears off. Try green tea.

 

Adding one more thing that works for me.

 

Instead of eating 3 meals a day, try eating 6 smaller 'healthy' meals each day. I'm almost 40, by eating this way I can really see the difference in my energy levels and mood, I hardly feel tired at all.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
  pa18 said:
Caffeine does perk you up but personally I think it leaves you more tired after the effects wears off. Try green tea.

 

Adding one more thing that works for me.

 

Instead of eating 3 meals a day, try eating 6 smaller 'healthy' meals each day. I'm almost 40, by eating this way I can really see the difference in my energy levels and mood, I hardly feel tired at all.

 

Absolutely. I believe that is how nature meant it to be. Somehow, our evolution derailed

this.Perhaps the 9-5 tedium started us in that direction.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
  cash123 said:
Absolutely. I believe that is how nature meant it to be. Somehow, our evolution derailed

this.Perhaps the 9-5 tedium started us in that direction.

 

i am almost there.... three scores and ten.... in actuality....

 

but i must confess, i only eat 2 meals a day.... and without any sort of meat, fish or others....

 

and i trade relentlessly....

 

besides, i also look after some very young kids of my own.... lol

 

in addition to looking after biz and other activities....

 

and i do not eat between the two meals.... however i do drink healthy dozes of water, coconut juice and other topical fruits juices every hour on the hour....

 

my longevity, living and life style are probably in direct contradiction to many advices proposed and given on board here, sorry....

 

and i do meditate and worship my God every hour on the hour as well.... which could have a direct bearing on my healthy and healthful life style and living.... and i rest and sleep wherever and whenever i can find a 5, 10, 15 or 30 minutes span to just rest....

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
  TimRacette said:

5. Sleep in 90-min Cycles

While it may be obvious that sleep is important, most people don't realize how much sleep their body actually needs. As we age our bodies require less and less sleep, however your activity level plays a large part in the amount of sleep you need.

 

Sleep helps reduce stress, improves memory, and keeps your heart healthy. An average sleep cycle takes approximately 90-mins to complete. This varies for each person, but not by much, maybe by a couple minutes.

 

Try this exercise...

 

Time your sleep habits for a week. Set your alarm so you wake up just after 6, 7.5, or 9 hours of sleep. This ensures that you've completed a full cycle and aren't waking up in the middle of REM sleep causing you to feel groggy and tired.

 

Give it a try and let me know what you think!

 

 

Really? Seems interesting enough I may give it a try over a weekend. I am a deep sleeper and sometimes wake up very tired. Never heard of this before though - is there any more info on this I can read about?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
  TimRacette said:

4. Distract Your Mind with Music

 

Listening to music during a mundane or dull task increases our focus and creativity. With soft music in the background, the part of our mind which becomes easily distracted is now occupied with the music.

 

I've found that listening to music without lyrics is most effective. My choice while trading is techno, but I also enjoy jazz and even classical.

 

I urge you to give it a listen!

 

I'm a big fan of music on during the day. I don't listen to the talking heads on TV since the internet can get you news info if you need it.

 

I've been listening to this online radio feed for quite awhile now. They have a bunch of 'stations' you can pick from and you earn points for listening. I could care less about the points, I just like the options to choose from but why not get something back for listening.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.


  • Topics

  • Posts

    • TDUP ThredUp stock, watch for a top of range breakout above 2.94 at https://stockconsultant.com/?TDUP
    • TDUP ThredUp stock, watch for a top of range breakout above 2.94 at https://stockconsultant.com/?TDUP
    • NFLX Netflix stock watch, local support and resistance areas at 838.12 and 880.5 at https://stockconsultant.com/?NFLX
    • Date: 8th April 2025.   Markets Rebound Cautiously as US-China Tariff Tensions Deepen     Global markets staged a tentative recovery on Tuesday following a wave of volatility sparked by escalating trade tensions between the United States and China. The Asia-Pacific region showed signs of stability after a chaotic start to the week—though some pockets remained under pressure. Taiwan’s Taiex dropped 4.4%, dragged lower by losses in tech heavyweight TSMC. The world’s largest chipmaker fell another 4% on Tuesday and has now slumped 13.5% since April 2, when US President Donald Trump first unveiled what he called ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs.   However, broader sentiment across the region turned more positive, with several markets rebounding sharply after Monday’s dramatic sell-offs. Japan’s Nikkei 225 surged over 6% in early trading, rebounding from an 18-month low. South Korea’s Kospi rose marginally, and Australia’s ASX 200 gained 1.9%, driven by strength in mining stocks. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng rose 1.6%, though still far from recovering from Monday’s 13.2% crash—its worst day since the 1997 Asian financial crisis. China’s Shanghai Composite added 0.9%.   In Europe, DAX and FTSE 100 are up more than 1% in opening trade. EU Commission President von der Leyen repeated yesterday that the EU had offered reciprocal zero tariffs on manufactured goods previously and continues to stand by that offer. Others are also trying again to talk to Trump to get some sort of agreement that limits the impact.   Much of the rally appeared to be driven by dip-buying, as well as hopes that the intensifying trade war could still be defused through negotiations.   China Strikes Back: ‘We Will Fight to the End’   Tensions reached a boiling point after Trump threatened to impose an additional 50% tariff on all Chinese imports unless Beijing rolled back its retaliatory measures by April 8. ‘If China does not withdraw its 34% increase above their already long-term trading abuses by tomorrow... the United States will impose additional tariffs on China of 50%,’ Trump declared on social media.   If implemented, the new tariffs would bring total US duties on Chinese goods to a staggering 124%, factoring in the existing 20%, the 34% recently announced, and the proposed 50%.   In response, China’s Ministry of Commerce issued a stern warning, stating: ‘The US threat to escalate tariffs is a mistake on top of a mistake... If the US insists on its own way, China will fight to the end.’ The ministry also called for equal and respectful dialogue, though signs of compromise on either side remain scarce.   Beijing acted quickly to contain a market fallout. State funds intervened to support equities, and the People’s Bank of China set the yuan fixing at its weakest level since September 2023 to boost export competitiveness. Additionally, five-year interest rate swaps in China fell to their lowest levels since 2020, indicating potential for further monetary easing.   Trump Talks Tough on EU Too   Trump’s hardline approach extended beyond China. Speaking at a press conference, he rejected the European Union’s offer to eliminate tariffs on cars and industrial goods, accusing the bloc of ‘being very bad to us.’ He insisted that Europe would need to source its energy from the US, claiming the US could ‘knock off $350 billion in one week.’   The EU, meanwhile, backed away from a proposed 50% retaliatory tariff on American whiskey, opting instead for 25% duties on selected US goods in response to Trump’s steel and aluminium tariffs.     Volatile Wall Street Adds to the Drama   Wall Street experienced wild swings on Monday as investors processed the rapidly evolving trade conflict. The S&P 500 briefly fell 4.7% before rebounding 3.4%, nearly erasing its losses in what could have been its biggest one-day jump in years—if it had held. The Dow Jones Industrial Average sank by as much as 1,700 points early in the day but later climbed nearly 900 points before closing 349 points lower, down 0.9%. The Nasdaq ended up 0.1%.   The brief rally was fueled by a false rumour that Trump was considering a 90-day pause on tariffs—rumours that the White House quickly labelled ‘fake news.’ The market's sharp reaction underscored how desperate investors are for any sign that tensions might ease.   Oil Markets in Focus: Goldman Sachs Revises Forecasts   Crude prices also reflected the uncertainty, with US crude briefly dipping below $60 per barrel for the first time since 2021. As of early Tuesday, Brent crude was trading at $64.72, while WTI hovered around $61.26.   Goldman Sachs, in a note dated April 7, lowered its average price forecasts for Brent and WTI through 2025 and 2026, citing mounting recession risks and the potential for higher-than-expected supply from OPEC+.       Under a base-case scenario where the US avoids a recession and tariffs are reduced significantly before the April 9 implementation date, Goldman sees Brent at $62 per barrel and WTI at $58 by December 2025. These figures fall further to $55 and $51, respectively, by the end of 2026. This outlook also assumes moderate output increases from eight OPEC+ countries, with incremental boosts of 130,000–140,000 barrels per day in June and July.   However, should the US slip into a typical recession and OPEC production aligns with the bank’s baseline assumptions, Brent could retreat to $58 by the end of this year and to $50 by December 2026.   In a more bearish scenario involving a global GDP slowdown and no change to OPEC+ output levels, Brent prices might fall to $54 by year-end and $45 by late 2026. The most extreme projection—based on a simultaneous economic downturn and a full reversal of OPEC+ production cuts—would see Brent plunge to below $40 per barrel by the end of 2026.   Goldman noted that oil prices could outperform forecasts significantly if there was a dramatic shift in tariff policy and a surprise in global demand recovery.   Cautious Optimism, But Warnings Persist   With both Washington and Beijing showing no signs of backing down, markets are likely to remain volatile in the days ahead. Investors now turn their attention to upcoming trade meetings and policy decisions, hoping for clarity in what has become one of the most unpredictable trading environments in recent years.   Always trade with strict risk management. Your capital is the single most important aspect of your trading business.   Please note that times displayed based on local time zone and are from time of writing this report. Click HERE to access the full HFM Economic calendar.   Want to learn to trade and analyse the markets? Join our webinars and get analysis and trading ideas combined with better understanding of how markets work. Click HERE to register for FREE!   Click HERE to READ more Market news.   Andria Pichidi HFMarkets   Disclaimer: This material is provided as a general marketing communication for information purposes only and does not constitute an independent investment research. Nothing in this communication contains, or should be considered as containing, an investment advice or an investment recommendation or a solicitation for the purpose of buying or selling of any financial instrument. All information provided is gathered from reputable sources and any information containing an indication of past performance is not a guarantee or reliable indicator of future performance. Users acknowledge that any investment in Leveraged Products is characterized by a certain degree of uncertainty and that any investment of this nature involves a high level of risk for which the users are solely responsible and liable. We assume no liability for any loss arising from any investment made based on the information provided in this communication. This communication must not be reproduced or further distributed without our prior written permission.
    • CVNA Carvana stock watch, rebound to 166.56 support area at https://stockconsultant.com/?CVNA
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.