People often ask me –

How can you get up from your screens, grab a workout or run errands or worse yet….go to bed?!

It is simple – but let me ask you a question first.

Why can’t you get up from your screens?

The answer I most often hear is as follows:

  • I need to make sure I protect my profits
  • I was looking at some trading blogs and I saw another viewpoint
  • My trading style demands me to watch the price action very closely

Allow me to respectfully dispel these ideas:

  • Protect your profits – this is nothing more than I was up 50 ticks on this trade, now I am only up 23 – I need to get out. Who says the trend has changed – rarely does a trade go linear, it ebbs and flows. 
  • Trading blogs – why do you need to get an opinion on your trade AFTER it has been placed – do you not trust your thesis?
  • Unless you are scalping 1-minute charts, staring at your screens adds no value – each tick against you actually triggers your brain to start thinking about what can go wrong – it plays on you and gets you to abandon your reason for getting into the trade.
  • These answers relegate the trader to be a prisoner of their screens, as it clearly indicates that the trader is not operating from a robust trading plan or as I call it – a framework.

If you do not have a framework you are compelled to manage and watch every change in prices thinking that that somehow puts you in control.

Nobody can control the market – you are kidding yourself!

Having a framework accomplishes the following:

  • Increases your confidence in placing and staying with trades
  • Provides an objective rule based approach
  • Allows for freedom – get away from the screens – do other activities that actually get your brain ready to come back later refreshed and recharged
  • Enhances your ability to stick with trends and capture the big dollars.
Do what every professional trader that trades for a living does - get yourself a framework.

Editors’ Picks

EUR/USD holds near 1.1900 ahead of US data

EUR/USD holds near 1.1900 ahead of US data

EUR/USD struggles to build on Monday's gains and fluctuates near 1.1900 on Tuesday. Markets turn cautious, lifting the haven demand for the US Dollar ahead of the release of key US economic data, including Retail Sales and ADP Employment Change 4-week average.

GBP/USD declines toward 1.3650 on renewed USD strength

GBP/USD declines toward 1.3650 on renewed USD strength

GBP/USD stays on the back foot and declines to the 1.3650 region on Tuesday. The negative shift seen in risk mood helps the US Dollar (USD) gather strength and makes it difficult for the pair to find a foothold. The immediate focus is now on the US Retail Sales data. 

USD/JPY drops toward 155.00 as focus shifts to US data

USD/JPY drops toward 155.00 as focus shifts to US data

USD/JPY meets fresh supply and inches closer toward 155.00 in the Asian session on Tuesday. The Japanese Yen holds the upper hand over the US Dollar after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi led the ruling Liberal Democratic Party to a historic landslide win and on intervention talks. Traders brace for key US economic data that could offer more clues on the Federal Reserve's monetary policy.


Editors’ Picks

EUR/USD holds near 1.1900 ahead of US data

EUR/USD holds near 1.1900 ahead of US data

EUR/USD struggles to build on Monday's gains and fluctuates near 1.1900 on Tuesday. Markets turn cautious, lifting the haven demand for the US Dollar ahead of the release of key US economic data, including Retail Sales and ADP Employment Change 4-week average.

GBP/USD declines toward 1.3650 on renewed USD strength

GBP/USD declines toward 1.3650 on renewed USD strength

GBP/USD stays on the back foot and declines to the 1.3650 region on Tuesday. The negative shift seen in risk mood helps the US Dollar (USD) gather strength and makes it difficult for the pair to find a foothold. The immediate focus is now on the US Retail Sales data. 

Gold stabilizes above $5,000 ahead of US data

Gold stabilizes above $5,000 ahead of US data

Gold enters a consolidation phase after posting strong gains on Monday but stays above the $5,000 psychological mark and the daily swing low. US Treasury bond yields continue to edge lower on news of Chinese regulators advising financial institutions to curb holdings of US Treasuries, helping XAU/USD hold its its ground.

Bitcoin Cash trades lower, risks dead-cat bounce amid bearish signals

Bitcoin Cash trades lower, risks dead-cat bounce amid bearish signals

Bitcoin Cash trades in the red below $522 at the time of writing on Tuesday, after multiple rejections at key resistance. BCH’s derivatives and on-chain indicators point to growing bearish sentiment and raise the risk of a dead-cat bounce toward lower support levels.

Dollar drops and stocks rally: The week of reckoning for US economic data

Dollar drops and stocks rally: The week of reckoning for US economic data

Following a sizeable move lower in US technology Stocks last week, we have witnessed a meaningful recovery unfold. The USD Index is in a concerning position; the monthly price continues to hold the south channel support.

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