How you feel physically is a major part of your success.
How much energy and mental acuity you have will go a long ways to your accomplishing amazing things in the world of Trading and Investing.
Many think "Hey, I'm sitting at my desk all day and pushing buttons on the keyboard and mouse, I don't need to be in shape for this.
" Wrong.
Your physical and mental stamina go hand in hand, and Trading is 99% mental, but your physical stamina will help dicate your mental effectiveness.
One thing I do as a trader is I track what I eat and drink each morning and evening so that I know what I'm fueling my body with each day.
This is especially important in the mornings and during the trading session.
Trading is very much like playing a professional sport or competing in the Olympics.
Do you think someone who is doing the 100m dash gets out of bed 5 minutes before the race, pounds a cup of coffee and a donut and then walks up to the starting line? I don't think anyone can achieve a "Gold" medal performance that way.
I know that trading really involves very little physical effort.
You punch a few keys on your keyboard, you move your mouse around and you hit the button.
That's it.
Sure, your heart may race from time to time and your breathing may speed up and slow down, but that's about it.
Do not let the fact you are sitting at a desk in your humble abode and punching on a keyboard or clicking a mouse fool you.
The thing you must realize is that you are competing against the BEST traders in the world when you take a trade or buy an investment.
It's like running an Olympic race each and every day you trade.
Remember, the person on the other side of your trade who is either selling to you or buying from you thinks YOU are 'unwise' to be engaging in this transaction - otherwise they wouldn't be taking the other side of your trade.
Pay attention to how you are sitting at your terminal.
Are you slouched over? Shoulders slumped? How is your breathing? Short and shallow? Or deep and controlled? How is your heart rate? Check in with yourself and make sure that you calibrate throughout the morning and afternoon so that you are in tune with what your body is telling you.
Your body does not lie.
If you are about to take a questionable trade and you notice your heartrate jumps to 170 bpm and your palms sweat, back off the mouse.
Lower the shares or simply take it as a warning to NOT take that trade.
Because even if you get in, you are most likely going to mis-manage the trade because you are trading with fear.
Make sure you are well rested and have eaten a balanced meal to give you sustained energy throughout the trading session.
Consult your doctor or your nutritionist for the best plan for you and your body type.
But play around with it and take notes.
You can always improve on something.
The physical part plays into your mental health.
It's hard to have laser-like focus when your body is screaming that it wants to crawl back into bed.
One of the best mental fitness exercises is to work your creative and imaginative juices.
I think it is imperative that one meditates and works on just focusing the mind.
Just sit quietly and close your eyes and breathe in and out and focus on your breath, and don't think about anything else.
And as soon as your thoughts go to your vacation or your family, or your dog, re-focus your mind on your breathing.
Do it for 10 to 15 minutes.
So take measures to ensure that you physically feel great when you are trading and mentally are focused.
It's absolutely necessary if you want the "Gold" medal in trading and investing.