Ways to relieve stress

Like all traders, you will often be busy, as trading has the power to take over your life if you do not manage it properly.

It can happen to anyone: your strategy does not go as you had foreseen, the market moves against you, and you start to struggle to think clearly, exactly when you need it most.

This is the kind of situation that marks the difference between those who have a competitive advantage and those who do not. How is it possible that some traders get stuck in a panic and close a trade too quickly, while others, despite a stop-loss, end up winning anyway? What is their secret?

You have seen how important it is to have a trading plan. I repeat it here because a trading plan helps you take control of your positions. You will not be forced to manage them constantly, or to kid yourself that you can control the market by looking at a screen (no one can).

A trading plan helps you have a pre-established approach based on rules you have set for yourself, giving you the freedom not to be in front of the computer all day long.

My advice is to take a break and move away from the platform. Your trading will benefit from it. Here are some suggestions for taking a break and recovering your concentration.

1. Eat, Drink and Chew

A two-week study published in 2009 in the Journal of Proteome Research found that eating about 40 grams of dark chocolate a day lowered the levels of stress hormones (cortisol and catecholamines) in people who reported high anxiety. If you prefer fruit, a banana is an excellent source of potassium, which helps regulate blood pressure.

Even though most of you are not British, tea is known to be good for you. An English study conducted at University College London on people who regularly drink black tea showed that their level of the stress hormone cortisol returned to normal faster after a stressful task than that of people who drank an identical-tasting placebo (although the tea did not reduce the stress they felt during the task). Green tea, in particular, is rich in theanine, an amino acid that reduces stress and improves reactivity. Come on! Go put the kettle on!

Chewing gum can be associated with nervousness, but it actually seems to have a calming effect. A study published in 2009 in Physiology & Behavior found that chewing gum was associated with lower salivary cortisol, and with lower stress and anxiety, both in periods of light stress and in periods of moderate stress.

2. Exercise

Adopting an exercise routine (running, hiking, dancing, etc.) is one of the best habits you can adopt for all areas of your health. It will not only relieve stress and anxiety, but it will also help with weight management, heart health, and overall wellness.

Exercise is often referred to as a natural antidepressant and natural energy booster. Exercise produces endorphins, which are like natural painkillers, so when they are released, we feel the negative effects of stress less.

3. Meditation and Yoga

As you have seen in the previous post, meditation is a great way to release stress/anxiety or to keep those feelings at bay. It does not have to be a long process where you are not thinking about anything. Many people feel that they have to do it for long periods of time whilst keeping their mind totally blank. This is not the case.

Yoga can have a calming effect on those who practise it. Many people consider it an exercise, but it has a great effect on the mind as well.

4. Get a Massage

Most people see massages as a luxury, but incorporating them into your wellness routine can be a key method for keeping stress and anxiety levels low. Many massage studios offer special prices when you schedule regularly.

5. Breathing

You also saw this method in the previous post. We all breathe every day, and this is how we stay alive. However, the breathing exercises that help with stress and anxiety are different from our everyday breathing. We can use specific breathing techniques to reduce stress.

By purposefully changing the way we breathe, we can change the way we feel and how our bodies react to what is going on around us.

6. Listening to Music

Listening to music, especially songs that bring up positive feelings or memories, can help to reduce stress and anxiety.

If you play a song that reminds you of a happy, calm, fun time in your life, your mind will immediately go to that memory, thereby lessening your current anxiety. If you enjoy listening to music with your eyes closed as a type of meditation, that can also be helpful.

7. Let Yourself Be Inspired

Sometimes, you just need to be inspired to stay focused. You can do this either by watching some classic movies or by listening to the success stories of other traders or successful men and women. “Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly” (Robert F. Kennedy).

8. Petting Your Pet

Believe it or not, a study by Odendaal and Meintjes (2003) found that positive interaction with a dog, such as petting it, increases levels of oxytocin, the so-called “love hormone,” in people (and in dogs), and lowers levels of the stress hormone cortisol in people.

I am a firm believer in this. I have a dog, and just a few caresses are enough to make everything else seem less important.

9. Singing

Take a nice shower and start warming up your vocal cords. Both endorphins and oxytocin, substances associated with the sensation of pleasure and relief from stress, are released as we sing.

Singing also stimulates the vagus nerve, an important element of the parasympathetic nervous system that helps to control our response to stressful situations.

10. Get Comfortable on the Couch

Be honest, you were not expecting this one. I give you permission to rest. When you are tired, you are less patient and more easily agitated, which can increase stress. Sleep is a crucial element for a low-stress/low-anxiety life. Many people underestimate the importance of a good night’s sleep.

A comfortable period on the couch can also help reduce stress. Furthermore, boredom can increase your creativity levels and maybe give you excellent ideas.

11. Anti-Stress Ball

To be honest, there is also an eleventh way to reduce stress, and this is simply using an anti-stress ball. You can find one practically anywhere. It may seem like a childish toy, but try using one and see whether it helps you. Many people find that squeezing one helps them release accumulated tension.

With these methods of stress reduction, I wanted to give you the means to trade at your very best. As I have said, if you want to keep the right degree of concentration for your trades, it is essential to know how to take breaks.

It is not about getting out of your chair every now and then. You have to build a personal method that works for you and your trading.