As of 04/18/2024   Indus: 37,775 +22.07 +0.1%     Trans: 14,947 -39.62 -0.3%     Utils: 860 +6.95 +0.8%     Nasdaq: 15,602 -81.87 -0.5%     S&P 500: 5,011 -11.09 -0.2%	YTD  +0.2%   -6.0%   -2.4%    +3.9%    +5.1%	Targets    Overview: 04/12/2024     39,800 or 37,150 by 05/01/2024   16,200 or 15,000 by 05/01/2024   885 or 850 by 05/01/2024   16,700 or 15,800 by 05/01/2024   5,250 or 5,025 by 05/01/2024
Chart Pattern Indicator: on 4/1/24

As of 04/18/2024   Indus: 37,775 +22.07 +0.1%     Trans: 14,947 -39.62 -0.3%     Utils: 860 +6.95 +0.8%     Nasdaq: 15,602 -81.87 -0.5%     S&P 500: 5,011 -11.09 -0.2%	YTD  +0.2%   -6.0%   -2.4%    +3.9%    +5.1%
Targets    Overview: 04/12/2024     39,800 or 37,150 by 05/01/2024   16,200 or 15,000 by 05/01/2024   885 or 850 by 05/01/2024   16,700 or 15,800 by 05/01/2024   5,250 or 5,025 by 05/01/2024
Chart Pattern Indicator: on 4/1/24

Bulkowski on Burning Out

Wikipedia: "Burnout is a psychological term that refers to long-term exhaustion and diminished interest in work." It often comes about when you push yourself too hard and for too long.

There are many symptoms that suggest you could be burning out. Take this quiz to find out.

Burnout: Quiz Time

1. Do you feel lethargic?
2. Would you rather stay in bed than trade?
3. Do you wake frequently at night and then feel tired all day long?
4. Does trading feel like a hopeless endeavor, just like everything else?
5. Do you have a temper now but didn't before?
6. Do you lose your temper over little things?
7. Do you feel as if you are losing control over your trading?
8. Do you need stimulants like caffeine?

If you didn't find enough energy to complete the quiz, then that suggests you are either burned out or a very lazy person. Answering more than one or two questions with Yes does not bode well either.

Burnout: Stress Triggers

Trading is a unique profession since the pressure to avoid losses is a daily challenge that creates stress. Too much stress and you burnout like a rocket motor. But stress often comes from more than just losing money, such as these triggers.

• Financial worries like too much debt or not enough money to pay the bills
• Excessive losses and the need to "make it back"
• Lifestyle changes such as divorce, job change, or even a death in the family
• Conflicts with spouse, friends, or neighbors
• Physical fights or even the threat of violence
• Deadlines
• Illness
• Poor eating habits
• Pain
• Lima beans

Yes, I added Lima beans for fun.

When stress becomes too high and sustained for too long, symptoms of burnout appear. You may have difficulty sleeping, or your anger rises. This may lead to an impaired immune system, triggering colds, arthritis, and so on.

Trading triggers the flight-or-fight response, and that causes the adrenal glands to produce adrenaline. That adrenaline gives you instant energy, just as stepping on a gas pedal does to a car. But over time, the response gets sluggish. An exhausted adrenal system means the person will have difficulty falling asleep (insomnia), then sleep soundly, but wake up still tired and remain that way throughout the day.

Once burnout occurs, often a trading career is over. Many change jobs and others spend time repairing their bodies, minds, and broken relationships.

Burnout: What's The Fix?

What can you do to avoid burnout? Here are some tips.

• Get plenty of daily exercise, just don't overdue it because too much exercise hurts adrenal function, too.
• Take frequent vacations. They need not be long, but they should be as stress free as they can be (in other words, leave bungee jumping for another lifetime).
• Eat better to help the body cope with stress. Avoid high fat junk food, salty snacks, and processed food.
• Meditate. Learn a method to reduce stress such as meditation.
• Plan the trade and trade the plan. Be a disciplined trader, one that follows his own rules. When you trade outside of your system, mistakes can cause stress and stress leads to burnout.
• Lead a balanced lifestyle. Learn to leave your work at the office. Go have some fun.

The best cure for burnout is to prevent it from happening in the first place.

See Also

• Are you a centered trader, one that lets emotions flow by without reacting, focused only on the trade?
• Do you trade just for the excitement? Discover why you need the adrenaline rush.
• Do you have what it takes to become a successful trader?
• Dealing with trading stress by expanding your comfort zone
• Read the other psychology articles. They may help...or twist you up like a pretzel!

 

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