A question I normally get asked all the time is:
“How do you stay mentally sharp when trading and investing in the financial markets?”
And in response, I always say to remember that it’s a lifestyle.
Yes, we trade and invest for a living, but it’s very important that we create the freedom at the same time to look after ourselves and our bodies.
By doing so, you allow yourself to have that sharp and fit mind to pursue investing and trading and do it properly.
At the same time, it allows you to pursue a great life – to really enjoy life, you need to be healthy and mentally fit!
If you spent all your energy focused on generating income from the financial markets at the expense of your health, what’s the point? There are only so many things you can do when your mind and body can’t keep up.
So for me I always think about keeping balanced.
Your Health is Your Wealth
They say that health is wealth for a reason.
It’s very important to remember that our physical and mental health should always come first.
You can have all the money in the world, but if you’re not physically or mentally healthy, you won’t be able to enjoy it.
At the same time, if you’re not physically or mentally on top of things, you’re severely limiting your potential to make even more money.
This is something I see all the time with people who come to me for help getting their financial lives in order – they’re not taking care of themselves, and it’s holding them back from really achieving their goals.
How To Invest And Trade More Effortlessly
Investing and trading requires a lot of mental energy and focus.
You need to be able to sit down and concentrate for long periods of time, do complex calculations, and make split-second decisions.
All of this is a lot easier said than done when you’re not feeling your best.
That’s why it’s so important to take care of yourself – if you want to be able to invest and trade effortlessly, you need to make sure you’re in top physical and mental shape.
Here are some of the things you can do to make sure you’re always feeling your best:
1. Make sure to get enough sleep.
This is one of the most important things you can do for your mental and physical health.
For most people, that’s about 8 hours of sleep every night. If you can’t get that all in one sleep cycle, you can try to take naps when you can.
2. Eat healthy foods.
What you put into your body, is what you get out. Like a car, our bodies are machines – only biological. If you fuel up a car with low-quality gasoline, it’s going to run less efficiently and it’s more likely going to break down faster.
The same is true for our bodies. If we eat junk food all the time, we’re not going to feel as good as if we ate healthy, whole foods.
3. Exercise regularly.
Exercise is important for both our physical and mental health. It gets our heart rate up, which is good for our cardiovascular health. It also releases endorphins, which have mood-boosting effects.
Plus, exercise helps to improve our cognitive function (i.e. thinking ability).
4. Take breaks and relax.
Investing and trading can be mentally exhausting. It’s important to take breaks throughout the day, and to relax in whatever way works best for you.
Some people like to take a walk, others like to read or listen to music.
Find what works for you and make sure to do it regularly.
5. Make time for friends and family.
Having a strong social support network is important for our mental health.
Make sure to set aside time for the people you care about, and to do things you enjoy outside of work.
6. Practise mindfulness.
Mindfulness is the training of the mind to be in the present moment.
It’s a way of living that can help to reduce stress, anxiety and depression.
There are many ways to practise mindfulness, but one of the simplest is to focus on your breath, and letting go of things you can’t actually act on right now like what happened in the past, or what will happen in the future.
If you’re unsure of how exactly to do that, a simple Google or YouTube search on guided mindfulness meditation will provide you with a multitude of options.
7. Visualise your days.
Visualisation is a powerful tool that can help you to manifest your goals.
Every morning, take a few minutes to visualise how you want your day to go.
See yourself feeling happy, healthy and successful.
Visualise yourself making smart investment decisions and achieving all of your goals.
My Morning Routine
If you’re wondering how you might be able to put together all of these things into a morning routine, here’s an example of what my mornings look like:
- I wake up at 5:00am AEST and place my pre-planned buy/sell orders on the market before it closes
- I then head out for a short 5km bike ride
- As I am riding, I will listen to a Youtube channel of motivational material to start my day.
- At 5km mark, I stop for 20 minutes of whole-body routine stretches, followed by 5 minutes of deep breathing and meditation. This helps me create flexibility in my body as well as my mind.
- Then I ride another 5km back to my residence
- After my training, for breakfast, I cold press a litre of cold press juice for the day. This is usually a combination of apples, carrots, celery, lemon, ginger, and garlic.
After I come back, I jump onto my computer, check the stock market and make any necessary preparations for the next day of orders to execute.
I follow this morning routine every day without fail – even in the rain.
The Bottom Line
Taking care of yourself is essential if you want to be a successful investor or trader.
If you’re not physically or mentally healthy, you won’t be able to perform at your best.
Make sure to get enough sleep, eat healthy foods, exercise regularly, take breaks and relax, and make time for friends and family.
You should also practise mindfulness and visualisation to help reduce stress and anxiety, and to stay focused on your goals.
By taking care of yourself, you’ll be setting yourself up for success in the world of investing and trading.
To your health and success,
Terry
