If people were asked to describe their impression of traders, many would likely use the word "mysterious."

In a trading room, there are multiple screens with computers, and the screens are filled with all sorts of market trends; the daily work is just a few clicks of the mouse, and money can come pouring in, giving a feeling of being able to command the world without leaving home.

Having been in the trading business for over a decade, many thoughts and habits have become ingrained. In my interactions with others, I am often described as "a bit strange."

I am someone who is good at summarizing and reflecting. Today, I will talk about what strange professional habits I have as a trader, and I believe many friends will resonate with this.

1: Can't remember significant dates, but risk market trends are clear

If someone asks me what the date is today, or what day it is, my mind would go blank; but if asked what day of the week it is, or if there are any risk data market trends, I would immediately respond.

The usual work-rest rhythm is from Monday to Friday for trading, and weekends off, which is a 5+2 pattern.

Advertisement

Every Thursday evening, the United States announces the number of initial jobless claims;

The first Friday of each month, non-farm employment data is released;

Every Wednesday, the United States announces EIA crude oil data.I can almost reflexively memorize the weekly economic data, such as interest rate decisions of various countries, unemployment rates, employment rates, GDP, PMI, and so on.

As for domestic holidays, I have no concept of them, such as the Dragon Boat Festival, Labor Day, Mid-Autumn Festival, and even the Spring Festival. As long as the foreign markets do not close, we are on the path of trading and trading.

I often trade on New Year's Eve and the first day of the Lunar New Year, saying "Happy New Year" on the first day while taking out my phone to place orders on the software, closing positions (like an emotionless trading machine).

My ex-girlfriend also complained that I couldn't remember important dates, and even said that I mumbled non-farm payrolls in my sleep.

2: I am particularly sensitive to time and sound.

The futures market is from 9:00 to 11:30 in the morning, from 13:30 to 16:00 in the afternoon, and starts at 21:00 in the evening. Whenever I am sleeping, I will automatically wake up 10 minutes before the market opens, without the need for any alarm clock or human wake-up call, and I am particularly sensitive to key time points.

My habitual operation is to set alarms on the software, such as entry, exit, take profit, stop loss, etc., and the sound is all "dong dong". My body has already developed a conditioned reflex to this sound.

Now, as soon as the "dong dong" sound rings, my brain will instantly clear, and my mind will only be left with K lines and trading. No matter what I am doing, I will put down what I am doing to watch the market, even if I am sitting on the toilet halfway through, I will also get up and go back to the computer to watch the market.

Every year, there is a switch between Daylight Saving Time and Standard Time in trading (an hour difference), and this is the most painful time of the year, forcing me to adjust my biological clock, just like endocrine disorder, very uncomfortable.

3: I am most afraid of relatives and friends asking: What do you do?Because the threshold for entering fund companies or securities firms to operate is very high, many traders operate as lone wolves. Moreover, traders have different trading perceptions, and the difficulty of forming a trading team is also great.

Whenever relatives and friends ask about my job, if I say I'm in trading, whether you say stocks, futures, or foreign exchange, in their minds, it's almost the same as the idle loafers on the street.

So I invented a term, saying that I am engaged in financial data research, studying exchange rates and economic data every day. The people around me don't understand, but they feel inexplicably impressive and dare not ask more. Everyone raises their glasses, as if they haven't asked anything.

Some friends also told me that I could print a few business cards, rent an office, set up a table with cigarettes and alcohol, hang a foreign trade company's name, and claim to be in foreign trade. This can also be very persuasive, and everyone can refer to it.

Of course, the best way to dispel doubts is to make more profits. To this day, after years of stable profit in trading, my economic conditions have surpassed most people. I have changed my house and car. Relatives and friends are curious about you, but they won't ask more. No matter what you say you do, they will think you are very successful and powerful. The world is like this, and I have accepted it with equanimity.

4: Everything is about risk first.

What has changed me the most in trading is the way of thinking.

In the early years, I did things regardless of the consequences. Now, I will consider the risks in advance before doing anything, and I will not be tempted by short-term benefits. When someone tells me that some investment opportunities are good, I will first do some research with a skeptical attitude, rather than being impulsive and going all in directly.

If something does not meet expectations, I will stop loss without hesitation, and I will not be indecisive and sticky. This is more obvious in interpersonal relationships. Because in trading, not stopping loss means loss.

I once said to the people around me: Calling a designated driver after drinking is the best "order" in terms of profit and loss ratio. Even if I only drink a sip of beer, I will not drive.Because hiring a designated driver only costs a few tens of yuan, while if caught, even with a blood alcohol level below 80 mg/mg for drunk driving, the penalty is a six-month suspension of the driver's license and a fine of 2000 yuan. This is not the greatest risk; if a traffic accident occurs due to drunk driving, the insurance company does not compensate, and the potential liability could be hundreds of thousands or even millions of yuan.

So, for something that can be resolved for just a few tens of yuan, I would certainly not take the risk of thousands or even hundreds of thousands.

5: Becoming more willing to admit mistakes

In the early days of trading, the favorite thing to do was to "hold on stubbornly." I thought that stopping a loss would not only result in a loss but also require admitting that I was wrong, which was an act of defiance against the world. How could I be wrong? Don't I have self-respect? What followed was countless margin calls.

Moreover, during the first few years of trading, my financial situation deteriorated, shifting from being financially comfortable to being in debt, and the way people around me looked at me changed. At that time, my self-esteem became particularly strong, and I could not accept others' questioning. I would even neuroticly interpret others' unintentional remarks as a lack of recognition of myself, making me as prickly as a hedgehog, ready to prick anyone who touched me.

What about now?

When I am scolded, my first reaction is not to get angry but to reflect on whether I have done something unsatisfactory.

In the trading room, if a trade is not done well or if there is a problem with the strategy, I will unhesitatingly admit my mistake to the team and engage in reflection and summary.

My trading experience has made me mature; if bowing my head can lead to better results, then there is nothing that cannot be done.

Admitting mistakes is not at all frightening; poverty is the most terrifying thing.6: No longer in love with trading

My obsession with trading in the past could be aptly described as "addiction," and it was not an exaggeration. The trading process was incredibly thrilling, with adrenaline surging through my veins. At that time, I wished to be glued to trading every minute of the day, 24 hours a day, and when the market closed on weekends, I would become quite restless.

This year marks my 11th year in trading. It feels as if every day is much the same, with a sense of "a little weariness after the passion has faded." Now, I no longer get excited about non-farm payroll reports, interest rate decisions, or even a $100 plunge in gold prices. I've seen it all, experienced it all, and I know I will continue to experience it in the future.

It's like having a fervent hobby that, once it becomes your profession, starts to breed feelings of fatigue towards it. Moreover, my trading strategies are now quite stable, involving daily waiting and execution. Coupled with the inherent challenges of trading that go against human nature, doing things that defy human instincts every day can be mentally and physically exhausting.

So, the saying "don't turn your hobby into your job" does hold some truth.

7: Able to coexist peacefully with solitude

This point is particularly evident in my life because I am single and live alone, spending most of my day in solitude. During those years when I faced setbacks in trading, the intense inner pain was something I had to endure alone, much like a physical wound that needs to be bandaged and healed.

In the past, I often suffered from insomnia late at night, filled with regret, disappointment, and even anger as negative emotions fermented. My rational mind was constantly in a battle with my inner emotions. I would often wake up in the middle of the night, turn on the light to read and shift my focus away from those negative feelings, and continue reading until dawn.Reading is a potent remedy for healing the wounds of the heart. When I read, it feels as if I am in conversation with the author of the book. He shares his stories and thoughts with me, and when our ideas collide, it is a tremendous encouragement for me.

Now, solitude is more of a peaceful sensation for me, and I even take great pleasure in it.

Solitude grants me more freedom. I am not burdened by the mundane concerns of middle age, with responsibilities both upwards and downwards. I have the energy and time to do my own things, such as reading, exercising, learning, and even daydreaming.

Apart from my own life, my greatest focus is on my parents. I spend time with them whenever I can, taking them out for meals, traveling, and experiencing the world's diversity. The overall state is very calm and relaxed.

8: Having some personal quirks

After years of trading, one inevitably develops some unique personal quirks.

For instance, a long-time friend of mine, who has been trading longer than I have, has a peculiar habit of abstaining during the week of the non-farm payroll report.

He believes that abstinence brings him good fortune and smooth trading. This is a habit he developed in his first year of trading and has not changed for many years.

As for myself, I seldom eat mutton because it is quite nourishing and can easily cause internal heat, which significantly affects my emotions during trading.

I pay attention to the patterns at the close of candlestick charts. All the clocks in my home are set five minutes fast to ensure I don't miss the closing of the candlestick charts.I also know a trader friend who starts trading early in the morning by placing a small order of 0.01, and then closes the position after 5 minutes. If this order is profitable, it is taken as a good omen for a smooth trading day; if the small order incurs a loss, it is seen as a sign of an unfavorable day in trading, and thus, caution is warranted.

Many such inexplicable quirks exist, and I believe many traders also have their own rituals.

9: Everything Must Be Planned

In the past, when I was trading, I pursued the "thrill" of it, doing whatever felt good at the moment. That period of trading was also the darkest time in my life. The entire room was in disarray, with no lights on, just sitting in front of the computer, placing orders based on my preferences.

Later, after I truly started making profits, planning and self-discipline became the most important aspects of my life. The lack of a plan for things or the development of events beyond my plan would cause a strong sense of discomfort.

For example, when traveling to a different place, I would definitely plan the day before: what time to depart the next day? What items to prepare? What time to arrive? Which route to drive? Which hotel to stay at? If I hadn't made these preparations in advance, I might not have set off.

Moreover, I carry a notebook with me every day to record the tasks that must be done that day, that week, and that month. I tick off each task as it is completed, ensuring that no important matter is overlooked, and life becomes very organized.

In fact, in trading, planning is a very important matter. If all the market changes after entering a position are within your plan, your trading will not go awry, your mindset will be stable, and the execution of your trading system will be clear and standardized, with a clear plan, which is the only way to achieve profitability.

10: The Ability to Delay Gratification

Instant gratification is very much in line with human nature. For example, being able to satisfy your immediate desires immediately brings a strong sense of pleasure.Last year, I came across a statistic that Douyin's monthly active users were around 500 million, with each person opening the app about 8 times a day, totaling approximately 50 minutes of daily usage.

Douyin is a quintessential product of instant gratification, producing content that is short, simple, and fast, allowing you to quickly scroll through a video and expand your desires infinitely based on your preferences. It recommends videos you like, making it hard for you to stop scrolling.

The continuous process of scrolling through Douyin leads to a prolonged high secretion of dopamine in the brain. Over time, people will gradually lose patience and find it difficult to calm down and consider complex and tedious matters.

Trading is similar; many people prefer short-term trading because it provides quick results and allows for high-frequency transactions, satisfying their immediate desires.

In the early days of my trading, I was also very impatient and enjoyed the thrill that came with quick and easy gains. I wanted to know the results quickly, so I engaged in ultra-short-term trading; I wanted to make more money at once, so I went all-in; I found stopping losses painful, so I avoided them, and so on.

These behaviors, which indulge one's desires, ultimately lead to losses, and often significant ones.

After experiencing many ups and downs, I have become more accepting of delayed gratification.

If I'm hungry late at night, I can resist and just drink some water before going to sleep, waiting until the next day to eat;

If I find myself a bit addicted to scrolling through Douyin, I'll put my phone aside, pick up a book, and engage in some slow-paced knowledge intake;

I no longer pursue short-term, quick profits in trading. I can wait for weeks, months, or even years for an overall, significant benefit.Life is no longer so impatient, with great patience for everything, and the desire for the moment can be postponed to be satisfied, which is also a temperament honed by trading time and again.

There is no such thing in this world that can be done as one wishes and also make a lot of profit. What we get is nothing more than something we have lost in exchange.

I wish everyone a smooth transaction.