How to trade around your 9to5 - My experience
Day trading - My experience
Initially it can be daunting trying to do something to better yourself but thats the way of life you'll always have to do something that makes you feel uncomfortable to get anywhere in life.
Why day trading?
Day trading is one of if not the only business model where you can 'test out' your strategy before implementing in to the real market and losing all your money. Using platforms like TradingView where you are able to use a demo account to test your strategy or rewind the charts back and replay it forward.
How do I work it around my 9to5?
Personally waking up before anyone else is the best time for me. Most of the time the only people that are up at that time are the hard workers, the people who want to get stuff done. My day starts at 5:30 AM getting to the gym for 6:00 AM. I am walking out the gym by 7:30am latest while others are walking into start their day. I take a look at the charts in the morning to see if there are any available trades and if there isn't I don't trade. No matter what happens, I win ,I lose or I don't trade I go about my day separate from what happened. Obviously, its hard to not think about it if you have had a very successful trade but you can't think about it all the time, you've got to think long term. One trade won't break you or make you!
Although I put a lot of emphasis on waking up early I feel most comfortable trading after the New York session in the afternoon as this is based around my strategy.
How to create a balance?
Initially, I was stuck throughout the summer that's all I was thinking about. Life's bigger than that. I get myself involved in other things as I know that if I don't I will always be looking at the charts which is not what you want to be doing all of the time as this will lead to a burn out or you not becoming a very successful trader. I am very into my fitness so along with the gym I'll run, I play rugby and I have just got into MMA. Creating other things to keep your mind at rest is key. What are you going to do when you become successful? You won't be wanting to stare at the screen all day you'll be wanting to spend that money travel, buy fast cars and go on holidays or at least that's what I am going to be doing.
Psychology
I would say as a new trader the biggest hurdle is not the strategy its the mindset. You've got to know when to not place a trade and when to just not look at the charts. I only know this because I have lost so many times in trading but I didn't lose massive amounts of money because I only traded small amounts.