|
December, 2012
|
|
|
|
|
From the Trader Health Files: Managing Stress and Maintaining your Edge
If the American Movie Channel's hit television series "Mad Men" is to be believed, the American advertising executive of the early 1960s conducted business largely fueled by lunchtime martinis, nicotine and red meat. As anyone who attempts to light up a cigarette in a New York bar these days will testify, times have changed. While smoking has been banned in public establishments in a number of states and tobacco use has certainly declined since the 1960s, statistics show that 20% of Americans still light up. As for gluttony, in the year 2010 the World Health Organization reported that 1 in 3 Americans were overweight or obese; a recent study by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention showed that for the first time in 25 years, Americans are not getting any fatter. This development hardly seems to worth crowing about, but may actually represent significant progress, as another study showed that Americans say they are exercising more.
In spite of their reputation for eating as they please, anecdotal evidence is emerging that at least some Americans are beginning to wake up to the importance of nutrition for health, particularly educated professionals. While most experienced professional traders are well versed in the rules of the markets (let winning positions run, cut your losses short, establish money management rules, etc.), American traders in particular may be overlooking the most obvious rule of all: keep your mental and physical edge by treating your body well. Trading the markets can be a stressful endeavor, and evidence has shown that stress can influence dietary choices as well as overall health. While a certain amount of stress can actually be beneficial, copious research has demonstrated that excessive stress increases risks of heart disease and strokes, and can impair the immune system.
People under high stress often make unwise dietary choices, relying on high sugar intake, energy drinks or caffeine to help them cope. Stress can also feed nicotine addictions, making it harder to quit the tobacco habit. By establishing a healthy dietary and exercise regimen, and adopting stress management techniques, traders may be able to cultivate an important long term competitive advantage, making better trading decisions and preserving their "mental capital" for a longer and more productive trading life. While every individual is different in their own health and dietary requirements, here follows a list of reasonable recommendations for maintaining a healthy trader's edge. Please consult your physician before undertaking any significant change in your lifestyle.
-
If you are not the "exercising type", don't feel bad about it. You don't need to become a star athlete to maintain your health. Start small by walking or taking the stairs. Be aware if you have any personal or family history of heart disease, and consult your doctor before undertaking an exercise regimen.
- Be aware of your stress tolerance levels. Some traders live for the action and thrive on adrenalin; others may do themselves harm fretting over losses or profits they may have missed. If you frequently find yourself becoming angry or fearful over your trading decisions or the market, you may need to pause and re-evaluate your attitude to determine if it is helping or hurting your trading decisions.
- Familiarize yourself with stress management techniques. Even if you don't need them, someone you know might. Yoga, meditation and other "new age" practices have long since entered the mainstream for many business professionals; while such techniques might not be for you, there may be others out there which could help benefit you or even save your life.
- Take an honest personal inventory. Do you feel healthy? Are you getting enough sleep? How are your energy levels? If you find yourself feeling run-down, see your doctor and review your diet, sleep and exercise habits. Reducing alcohol, caffeine and fast food consumption can help jumpstart your engine. Increasing your consumption of whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables may help improve your outlook and your energy levels.
- Try organic dairy and produce. While not all foods labeled "organic" should be considered better for your health, a number of foods prepared without pesticide or additives have been shown to be healthier for you. Don't scoff; do your homework.
- Prioritize your mental health. It is important to be realistic in trading, but do not fall in to the habit of encouraging pervasive negativity in your own daily thought patterns. Depression should be taken seriously as a health threat; luckily it is treatable. Consult a mental health professional if you experience pervasive sadness, negativity or anxiety. Contact an emergency room immediately if you experience thoughts of suicide.
- Review your diet, and keep up with the latest nutritional research. Be skeptical but open minded about nutritional claims you encounter on the web or in the media. Finally, don't forget to include some enjoyment in your life! Make any healthy habits you attempt to incorporate sustainable, and make room for some fun as well. Encourage the company you work for to get involved. As a small example, at Striker, we have started an ice hockey team and it is a lot of fun for work colleagues to work up a sweat on the ice, skating and playing a great sport together.
|
In This Issue:
Featured Interview(s):
From Previous Issues:
|
|
Resource Links |
|
|
Copyright © Striker Securities, Inc. All rights reserved.
|
There is a risk of loss in trading. It is the nature of commodity and securities trading that where there is the opportunity for profit, there is also the risk of loss. Commodity trading involves a certain degree of risk, and may not be suitable for all investors. Derivative transactions, including futures, are complex and carry the risk of substantial losses. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. Please read additional risk matters on our web site, www.striker.com. It is important you understand all the risks involved with trading, and you should only trade with risk capital. This communication is intended for the sole use of the intended recipient.
About this report The information and links on this website are for informational purposes. The risk of trading can be substantial and each investor and/or trader must consider whether this is a suitable investment. Past performance, whether actual or indicated by simulated historical tests of strategies, is not indicative of future results. Striker is a member of the National Futures Association ("NFA"), the Managed Funds Association ("MFA"), and the National Introducing Broker Association ("NIBA"). Striker is registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission ("CFTC"), and was formerly registered with the Securities Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Additionally, Striker is a former member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ("FINRA"), and the Securities Investor Protection Corporation ("SIPC"). FINRA is the largest non-governmental regulator for all securities business in the United States. Please read Striker Disclosure Statement for the additional disclosure.
The trading performance cited throughout our web site is based on actual trading history, unless otherwise noted. The starting account balance is based on the system developer recommendation. Striker tracks actual performance by recording and maintaining each trade ticket for each system generated. The performance information assumes that no additions or withdrawals have been made. The rate of return for all systems disclosed in the Striker Report is cumulative from the day the system actually started trading at Striker. We maintain a "life" track for all 3rd party systems. We do not necessarily base our records on any particular client account. No one particular customer has achieved these results. The percentage returns reflect inclusion of commissions and fees.The actual percentage gains/losses experienced by investors will vary depending on many factors, including, but not limited to: starting account balances, market behavior, the duration and extent of investor participation (whether or not a client takes all signals for a system) in the specified system and money management techniques.
Striker is a revolutionary concept in action: an international, professional team of brokers dedicated to trading only for clients. It bears repeating: unlike most other brokers, Striker does NOT trade futures for itself or any of its employees. This policy has been in place from the start in order to guarantee that our entire focus remains on the interests of our clientele. Striker believes that when brokers are allowed to trade for themselves (or have in-house trading practices) there is a strong potential for conflict of interest, as the broker may place more importance on his own trading activities (or that of his firm's) than on those of his clients. Finally, Striker has no financial ties to system developers, so there no bias or pressure on how we report the actual trading results posted in our client section. This section is designed specifically for Striker's clients, so they may audit their results on a daily, weekly, monthly, or annual basis.
|
|