Underestimated sources of stress in trading: non trading related stress

A minor problem in trading that has occurred may be felt by you as very painful and serious at a time when you are particularly sensitive to stress, when your mental condition is weakened. The cumulations of negative events affect your trading results, especially losses and mistakes. It is best not to trade then. Stabilize yourself.

Stress and its impact on trading

You become particularly sensitive to stress, and your psychological reaction as a trader is greater and more painful when non-trading stress occurs: you are ill, you or a relative have an accident, a family member or friend dies, you have personal problems (e.g. quarrels, divorce, tensions at home, especially permanent), you have serious problems at work (especially permanent), etc.

Non-trading stress affects trading in the same way as it affects many other situations. Because... why not?

Very important: Stress from different sources is cumulative.

Reactions to stress in trading

At times when you are under severe or permanent stress in a field other than trading, you will be more attentive because market failures will be more difficult to deal with and you will be more likely to be knocked off balance.

This increases the number of errors and lowers your intellectual capacity as a trader, so you may find it more difficult to analyze beforehand as well as to trade.

It is possible, but it will be more difficult and you should be more careful in such situations.

I think this is probably why quite a few traders I know practice meditation. Good for trading and likely life in general.

This definitely affects me on a daily basis. I have three small children (ages 1-4) that are home with me 24/7 while I try to trade. Sometimes I just get overwhelmed by the noise and the messes they make. I try to worry about picking it up later, since trading is more like a full-time job to me, but it's never-ending. I often tell myself that I'll be better at my job once all of them are in school during the day and I can work in silence, but that might just be wishful thinking.

HeavLeighGill26 posted:
This definitely affects me on a daily basis. I have three small children (ages 1-4) that are home with me 24/7 while I try to trade. Sometimes I just get overwhelmed by the noise and the messes they make. I try to worry about picking it up later, since trading is more like a full-time job to me, but it's never-ending. I often tell myself that I'll be better at my job once all of them are in school during the day and I can work in silence, but that might just be wishful thinking.

What else can I say, that's true. Just as in any other job so in trading you need the right environment.
Realizing this is already a step forward. You get there!