Wake Up To A Stress-Free Way to Build a Successful Trading Business –by Chrissy Davidson

In New Zealand, 43% of workers work when overtired,resulting in slow reaction times, exercising poor judgement and making mistakes. These mistakes can cost time and money. If you have decided to set up your own business in trading, undoubtedly one of the most demanding careers, managing your own stress and fatigue levels in order to stay sharp will be even more critical to your new venture’s success. Without the luxury of delegating tasks and support from other staff, you’ll need to be performing at your best in order to maintain your objectives and build your business. Infrequent episodes of acute stress can help focus the mind but you need to recognise when to take a break to avoid chronic stress and fatigue.

Working Around the Clock

There are always buyers and sellers actively trading somewhere in the world so you can benefit from profitable market conditions at any time without waiting for the opening bell. However, it’s impossible for your mind and body to keep up with 24 hour trading without having a regular work routine and sensible sleep pattern. Sleep deprivation could significantly hinder your ability to work efficiently, reducing your reaction time over picking up trends and hampering your decision-making during executions. In contrast, the functions of learning and memory are improved while we sleep because the connections between the neural pathways that help us perform these tasks are strengthened. Of course, you may find it harder to switch off when you’re your own boss, but simply turning off your phone could help you get a better night’s rest. Not only does your phone distract you with constant alerts, but its blue light suppresses the production of melatonin, the hormone that helps regulate your sleep patterns. After a good night’s rest, you’ll be refreshed and alert, ready to deal more effectively with the emails and messages from the night before.

Exercise Your Body and Mind

A survey of 93,000 New Zealand workers confirmed that stress in the workplace is on the rise, with 32% of them reporting that their levels of stress had risen in the last two years.

With the extra responsibilities involved with starting your own trading business your stress levels are likely to be high. Worrying about a negative month trading could leave you vulnerable to taking on more risk to make up the shortfall. Having a financial buffer in place for these times is essential but, in the shorter term, a healthy way to reduce the build-up of stress and tension while at the same time sharpening your mind is exercise. Exercise boosts blood flow to the brain and the extra energy and oxygen increases brain performance. As well as exercise, simply recognizing your limitations and spending some time relaxing and away from work-related worries can be helpful in reducing day-to-day stress and creating a sustainable routine.

A sharp mind is essential in order to pick up on trends and quickly detect patterns in trading and you need your wits about you when starting a business from scratch.  Managing stress levels is an important aspect of maintaining a sense of control in life and by reducing stress, following a regular work pattern, and getting plenty of good quality sleep, you will feel physically fitter and more alert to focus on the success of your new business.