It’s crazy that we live in a time when the entire global financial market seems to be at the whim and fancy of what one person decides to do — and he can, and does, do whatever he wants depending on which side of the bed he wakes up on.

The only way to survive as a trader in this market is to make survival the first goal, not making money. When you’re getting whipsawed out of positions on both sides, and there’s very little you can do in a headline-driven market, the most logical thing is to trade with smaller amounts of capital, reduce the risk in your account significantly, and wait for opportunities where you can actually make money — rather than taking undue risk in a highly uncertain, highly volatile environment.

There are also 3 holidays in the next 7 days, which almost guarantees a news cycle that can swing markets either way. Even smaller overnight positions.

Trading is also inherently a lonely activity. And when you’re constantly getting feedback in the form of profit and loss, it takes a mental toll. This was true even when I was actively trading.

So with a long weekend coming up, I can’t think of a better time to take a break, recharge, and come back to the blinking red and green lights with a fresh mind.

Link to the holiday calendar.

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