Boost Your Trading Boost Your Life 

Ten Ways to Boost Your Life and Mindset

Jan 17, 2010 

The “mood” that you come to the trading desk with is so important for a good mindset. A good mindset translates into good trades that are focused and disciplined.  Anger, frustration, anxiety and fear are strong emotions that hinder a trader’s chances of a good execution.  If your mind is not on what you’re doing and focus becomes fuzzy, trades can lose their “crispness” and suffer in their potential. 

The way ones goes through their life influences the mood. So with all the New Years Resolutions being developed and trading plans for the year here are ten way to enrich and boost your life quickly. 

Number one is your appearance. Yes, I know you’re about to say, what?   Appearance no one sees me in my office when I trade so why can’t I trade in my shorts. There is nothing wrong with being comfortable but getting up and functioning like you are going to the office and feeling good about your appearance helps your mindset and mood.  You’ll feel refreshed and ready to go, after a great shower and getting dressed and up for the day. I don’t know if you have noticed but long comfortable showers can stimulate your thinking and creativeness.  

Two, change something in the area you spend a lot of time in. Your environment as a trader is so very important. Maybe your office needs a fresh coat of paint or you might add some music you like or better lighting. Even a new desk can perk – up your surroundings. Think of adding things that make you feel rejuvenated, laugh or bring joy, a picture of the family or favorite pet even a favorite calendar or sports cars and brighten things up. Change is good and can be refreshing. 

Three, take time to focus on your overall outlook on life.  Keep things positive and optimistic. Look to find the good in things not the bad. How you are thinking and the thoughts you send to your mind make a huge difference in the way you feel and also how you project yourself to others. If you find yourself in a “salty” mood try this simple technique, just do the opposite, or “flip it”.  If you are angry flip it to happy or funny.  Anxious, switch to calm, frustrated try accepting or relaxing. Another way to go from a bad state of mind to a good one is asking great questions. One that works when you are challenged with anything is “What’s great about this?” Finding the best in the things around you help the overall mood and how you feel.  Think about it, if two people are challenged by the same exact thing, why is it that one can handle it easily as if nothing happened and the other adds in all the drama and struggles through it? It’s the way the look at it. One looks at it as a huge mountain to climb and the other a small bump in the road.  Minimize the drama, make life’s challenges easy not difficult.   Try it, it works and you will feel great!  

Four, is thinking greener than you have been by being a small part in the big picture. Knowing you are doing the right thing makes you feel good.  How about switching to “paperless” billing and pay your bills on-line instead.  Did you know if 1 in 5 people switched and did this we would save 151 MILLION pounds of paper and 8.6 M bags of garbage a year! If 1 in 4 families switched to re-useable lunch bags there would be 1040 millions pounds less in plastic bags at the landfill. HUGE! One simple change. 

Five, is doing a good deed for someone. Doing something for someone you know is great and also someone you don’t can be even better. Did you made a donation of blood to the Red Cross you would save 3 lives or being a bone marrow donor can help those who have Leukemia or Lymphoma, and this can be done easily by adding “donor” to your driver’s license.

Today due to the horrific situation with the earthquake in Haiti, donating to the relief efforts can really make a difference. Be sure to donate to an organization you have heard of so you know your money will end up in the right hands. Even a small donation can help so do what you can. 

If a friend is sick make some soup, or buy some and deliver. Try one of my favorites: do an act of kindness for someone who least expects it and watch the magic, its fun! 

Six, search for your serenity. A place that is quiet and just for you to empty your mind of everything. Take a few days and don’t listen to news. News creates fear based thinking when bombarded with one tragedy after another. Free your mind meditate or learn how to, but take time to yourself in the quiet of some great atmosphere. Choose some soothing music you like and have your thoughts drift to what was great about the day. You will be amazed how this feels and how “freeing” it is to just let go of everything for a short period of time. 

Seven, take time to tune-down the stress around you. Just texting messages, answering e-mails, facebook and tweets cause a dynamic of stress. Take a break from all the outside noise and relax. During this time work to define your Yes’s and be selective and learn when it’s OK to say no. Just do it with grace and kindness. 

Eight, contribution in general is a good thing. Creating a habit and ritual to contribute on a regular basis adds meaning to life knowing there is someone you did something for and it was appreciated. There are so many great organizations that do fantastic work in helping others. From the local shelter to the more global efforts to help other in need, contributing makes the heart feel good. This year I was introduced to an organization Heifer International by a very special friend. By donating a cow, goat, a flock of geese with Heifer International your gift can lift an entire community out of poverty. They are also involved in helping the Haitian families that have lost so much. Their mission is to end hunger and poverty, check them out at www.heifer.org. 

Nine, OK here is the biggy, check out your real age and get some good advice on how to turn back the clock by taking the test on www.realage.com. You start with your age and as you answer the questions your real age is calculated and advice is given at the end on what you can do to live a healthier life. You can get the test without signing up for other ads and you get some really good advice. Before you take the test know your cholesterol levels and vitamins you take. This is not suggested to depress you but to kick start the New Year with some new great habits. 

Ten, friends are my favorite topic. Take some time to re-connect with some old friends and call around to see how they are. Surprise someone who hasn’t heard from you in awhile. Friends warm the heart and give you balance. We all need to be connected and feel loved by our friends. Pick one person you have neglected to touch base with in a very long time and call them.  See how they are share your life and be thankful and grateful for friends, it can feel really, really good. 

OK boost your life! Enjoy living wake up each day and take charge of your happiness.  

And in the meantime GREAT trading!