MAMA ALWAYS TOLD ME THERE WOULD BE WEEKS LIKE THIS
To quote Hyman Roth in the Godfather 2, "this is the business we've chosen." As such, you're gonna have losing weeks. I lost money this week. I know a lot of other people did too. It was a rough week, no doubt.
Over the past 16 years of having bad weeks, good weeks, followed by more bad weeks and then some good weeks. I have developed a routine to get me through the bad weeks. There are a number of things you can do to feel better in one hour or less:
1. Go to the gym. I can't emphasize this one enough. I usually spend two hours at my gym. I do cardio, weights, steam room, jacuzzi, and shower. Between the time I arrive at the gym and the time I leave, the difference in my personality, attitude and mind are night and day. It has never failed me once. I go in a negative, mouth-breathing heathen and come out a peaceful, joyous hippie.
2. Spend time with a friend. This business is one that tends to isolate you. If you are an independent trader or investor, odds are you spend most of the day alone. You need to get outside of your own head. The best way to do that is to get inside someone else's. Taking just one hour to sit down and talk with a friend about anything will go a long ways toward getting you out of that negative space.
3. Read a book. Not a book about the financial markets! Read books about life, spirituality, inspirational figures. I can't tell you how many times I have turned to books during periods of distress. No matter the severity, books have always helped.
4. Find a peaceful place to just sit. If you have a nice beach close to your home, go hang out there for awhile. If you have a peaceful lake, hit it up. If you have some mountains that take you to that place, go there. Any place other than your office or home. You won't find your peace in the places where you spend most of your days. Go to that place where every time you go that voice comes into your head saying, "I should really spend more time out here."
5. Write. I love writing. It puts me in a zone. I forget about everything during the period of time I am writing an article. Once it starts flowing, the words just pour out. I often times don't know what I'm going to write. I have a general subject in mind and then it just takes shape. It's like painting in a sense. Write about anything. Simply allow words to flow out of you...see what comes out.
Doing any of these 5 exercises in body, soul and mind recovery will not bring back the equity you lost in the market this week. What they will do, however, is put you in the right frame of mind to make the decisions that will get you back on track. Don't allow a losing week to spiral into a losing month that derails your entire year simply because you can't get outside of your own head.
