An anonymous quote is perfect for those of us in the trading world. It goes, "Stress is when you wake up screaming, and you realize you haven't fallen asleep yet!" There's no doubt that stock traders have an extremely stressful job. Adverse events, market fluctuations, and political changes can all influence our trades, and, in turn, our own stress levels. Whether you are a seasoned or novice trader, stress can affect your clarity of thinking and your decision-making. It's critical that you do all that you can to reduce stress and increase calm while you are trading. But how?
First - Eat right. Skipping breakfast is a surefire way to start your day out on the wrong foot. Cereal, yogurt, protein bars...these are all easy ways to give your body some fuel to start the day.
Next - Avoid too much caffeine and nicotine. Both are stimulants that can cause undue stress to your body and your mind.
Third - Deep breathing exercises are easy stress relievers that bring numerous benefits for the body, including oxygenating the blood, which 'wakes up' the brain, relaxing muscles and quieting the mind.
And - Exercise! Many people exercise to control weight and get in better physical condition to become more healthy or physically attractive, but exercise and stress management are also closely linked. Exercise provides a distraction from stressful situations, as well as an outlet for frustrations, and gives you a lift via endorphins as well.
Last but not least - Don't exceed your own personal trading skills. If you are new to trading, do not put extra pressure on yourself by trying to achieve trading goals that you cannot possibly achieve. For example, follow your plan by keeping position sizes small and have clearly defined risk limits. If you push yourself beyond your skill level, you will probably unnecessarily deplete your account balance more rapidly and end up experiencing even more stress.
In the mean time, Good Luck on your journey to success...