Trading is an awesome way to make a living. If you are successful, then you are able to spend a little more money here and there, buy bigger homes, send you kids to better schools, and of course, enjoy all the lifestyle perks of financial success. How about vacations? When was the last time you took one? When was the last time you left the market completely alone and didnt even think about it?
There is a reason why vacation time is a vital part of negotiating any job position. Without vacations, we wither up and start to resent the very avenue that brings us success. Without a vacation, we become burn outs hating our lifestyle as much as our job. Without vacations, we never reconnect with the important things in life, the things that brought us to trading in the first place. Didnt we want our kids to see more of the world while they were growing up? Didnt we want bigger and better for our significant other? Without vacations, we dont get a chance to really fully enjoy the things that we set out to accomplish.
In the early 20th century, Jesse Livermore was known as the most successful (and most feared) stock trader on Wall Street. In 1929, Livermore went short several stocks and made $100 million. He was blamed for the stock market crash that year, and solidified his nickname, The Boy Plunger.
Livermores trading success came not because of any inside information or knowledge he had about each stock or commodities market he traded. Rather, his success was derived from his understanding of human behavior. He realized early on that markets and stocks can and do change--but people and their behaviors do not. In his book How to Trade Stocks, Livermore writes, All through time, people have basically acted and reacted the same way in the market as a result of: greed, fear, ignorance, and hope.
Jesse Livermore may have been called the greatest stock market trader of the 20th century and certainly, no one can disagree that his profits were immense and his trading prowess was unmatched. But his life was not in balance. He was a workaholic who paid too little attention to his family and ended his own life in 1940. You must have balance in your life to achieve lasting success at any endeavor, and, most definitely, trading markets is no exception.
Most traders you talk to will tell you they hate to take a day off - much less a vacation - because they are afraid they will miss the next big trade. As typical Type A personalities, traders need that adrenaline rush and tend to seek high-stress jobs to keep it going.
When you find yourself stressed out, turning negative, or neglecting your friends and family - take a break. The market will be there tomorrow or next week. It really comes down to recognizing a need for balance in your life. Working hard is great, but you need to be able to turn it off and savor the other parts of your life -- friends, family, hobbies, and fun. Youll return with a much better feeling of energy and renewed exhilaration.
In Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz's book, The Power of Full of Engagement, they state we live in a world that celebrates work and activity, ignores renewal and recovery, and fails to recognize that both are necessary for sustained high performance.
They go on to say without periods of recovery, our life becomes a blur of doing and leaves little time for being. But it is in our ability to just be where our creativity flourishes, love and friendships are nurtured and a deeper connection to our spirit can be found.
Spiritually speaking there is a Universal Law of Balance that simply states: Balance applies to us on cosmic, biological, and personal levels ? to our body, mind, and emotions ? reminding us that anything we do, we can overdo or underdo, and that if our internal pendulum swings to one side, it will inevitably swing to the other. (Source: The Life You Were Born To Live by Dan Millman)
Right now, take a few moments and decide how you can have more fun, get more rest and practice stillness on a regular basis. As an example, see my personal list below. Feel free to use this outline for your own use.
How I like to have fun: spend time with friends, plan and host a party, travel, go shopping, try new restaurants, discover fun things to do in the city I live, decorate my house, volunteer
How I like to rest: nap, read, watch TV, go to a movie, hang out with my family and friends, go to the spa, get a massage, wear my comfiest clothes
Where I can find stillness (how I clear my head so I can hear my wiser inner voice): meditate, walk in nature, go for a drive, take a shower, exercise, get my camera out and take pictures
Life is lived in the NOW. It is not lived down the road, in the future, or when the time is right. There is no better time to enjoy this life you have then right now. Take a break from all of your responsibilities and worries and rebalance your energy by doing something that allows you to laugh, feel joy, and refresh your body, mind and spirit.
Both Ben Needles & Cari Vollmer are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Ben Needles has sinced written about articles on various topics from Business Credit Cards, Anger Control and Business Credit Cards. About the Author (text)If you would like to immensely improve your trading and investing results, check out .. Ben Needles's top article generates over 550000 views. to your Favourites.
Cari Vollmer has sinced written about articles on various topics from Information Technology, Family Concerns and Copywriting. Cari Vollmer, founder of and creator of , simp. Cari Vollmer's top article generates over 14800 views. to your Favourites.