New investor/trader here. Does this stuff consume anyone else like it does me? It seems to be all I think about now. I check my charts constantly during the day, I often watch YouTube videos about it after work. I even check the pre and after market! I’ve stopped going to the gym or really doing the things I use to, mainly because I’ve become so frugal with my money now. It’s turned into an obsession…but one that makes a little money. Does this feeling wear off? Lol
Does this stuff consume you too? or just in the beginning?
byu/geekbag inoptions
Posted by geekbag
17 Comments
There are plenty of people who find it addictive, r/wallstreetbets comes to mind.
There is nothing wrong with being super on top of things but it is a marathon, not a sprint, and if you are holding on too tight you’ll make emotive rather than rational decisions.
As you gain experience you’ll learn to focus on what actually matters when it matters, until then make yourself walk away from it after hours at least.
Until you live through two full economic cycles, it’ll all feel unfamiliar.
In the beginning I spent 4-6 months studying until 10-11 at night, and I would be up at 5am to do it all over again
While I learned a ton, it wasn’t healthy and affected my life in negative ways. Have a piece of your day scheduled for studying
The making money part wears off first
It did consume me at first, but it was destroying my relationships because I wouldn’t shut up about this topic.
It did in the beginning. In the end, I simplified… to simpler… lower risk strategies…. CC”s and CSP’s… low delta. And now… I spend FAR less time… and make FAR more money.
Take the time to read this
https://novelinvestor.com/notes/confusion-de-confusiones-by-joseph-de-la-vega/
https://www.posenlibrary.com/entry/confusion-de-confusiones-confusion-confusions
I think it should be addictive. But it’s not necessarily an addiction. It’s more of a super deep dive. After several years of trading, I no longer goes as deep as I used to as a matter of fact, I usually don’t spend as much time as I need to, because I already kind of know what I need to know. But back in the day I would spend entire weekend researchingand doing analysis. But it’s a lot less now.
Can always spot the obsessive/compulsive ones because they throw a “Lol” at the end of their posts. Not even fucking necessary and it’s lost all meaning. You didn’t actually LOL.
Just do your research and if you want to post here, do it with value added questions. Otherwise there are other subs for sharing your thoughts about how obsessed you are with the market.
The trick is to get a strategy and get into a rhythm. Sell calls on Monday, check weds, buy back on Friday, etc.
it does get boring eventually. Life intrudes.
Absolutely. After a couple years it is finally starting to fade just slightly, but it’s still consuming me more than I feel is healthy.
I’ve been in the same boat. Currently selling weekly’s on soxl and / or tqqq for a bit. Thinking about switching to monthly’s at a 20 delta (maybe 15) walking away and giving my mind a rest.
KISS
Keep it simple, stupid.
It is called gambling addiction
Not really. It is **extremely** rare I buy an option. I just sell CC on some positions
Common in the beginning- learn to create boundaries and let it subside. Trade with facts not emotions
I’ve been obsessed with the markets for over 20 years now. Never goes away — at least not for me.
Easy to do, we’re all a little guilty of it. But get disciplined about setting aside time to do other things, deepen relationships, touch grass as they say, etc. or you’ll get burned out and/or destroy relationships and careers. Seriously, make a schedule of trading time (including research/review) and non-trading time and stick to it. You’ll be far happier in the long run. And enjoy the ride, it’s supposed to be fun, if it stops being fun, take a break.