Writers Block & Trader Mind Flow

Hard to believe I have not posted since May. I think it was a combination of blog boredom, writers block and an opportunity to turn down the noise.

During the "flash crash", although I did not get hurt, it did contribute to creating more "noise" in my head. It threw my thinking of market flow into turmoil and I had to back off from trading for a few days.

I ended up turning off my head and refrained from reading regular blogs I visited daily, abstaining from daily, intraday trading, put down the trading books / manuals and just settled my neurons and synapses with mindless thought, soft music and outdoor activities.

I've found over the last year or so that it's always good to back away from trading once in a while whether for a few hours, days or even weeks. For me, it really recharges my batteries, helps me reset my brain and definitely makes me a better trader when I come back to the trading platform.

Over the summer, not only did I watch the Chicago Cubs "die on the vine", I found myself taking nice breaks from short-term trading and did not trade every day, took a couple weeks off each month and rediscovered spreads on a more regular basis (using almost exclusively the RUT). This kept me engaged with the market yet in a low-noise, longer-term position reality.

As my trading career advances, I continue to find the stepping stones to the promised land of profitable consistency albeit it's a long and slow road. Learning about oneself, understanding market action, tying in trading with personality while understanding and controlling emotions is a common thread in the ongoing journey among traders.

Limiting / eliminating the noise and outside biases provided by chat rooms, blogs, Twitter, etc. can really make a difference, at least with this trader.

So with some new inspirations, fresh perspectives and my never dieing passion for trading, I submit this post as recognition of my new found ability to uncork the writers block bottle and trade with an open, free flowing mind.

I'm sure another break is in my not too distant future.

Trade Well !