Soundtrack

Music can be a useful aid in gauging our emotional balance in real time during the trading day. For most screen-based traders, virtually all information pertinent to the markets arrives visually; sound plays little if any role in our decision-making process. Hence, the ears provide an alternate channel into our psyche distinct from the rational/logical, tapping directly into our "mood centers" which may subtly (or not so subtly -- keyboard smashers of the world unite!) color our perception of market information. Manhattan, Goodfellas, Trainspotting: the great film soundtracks go beyond complementing the action on screen -- they capture the spirit behind the director's motivations and distill the essence of a film to song. Along the same lines, ideally you'd want the "soundtrack" of your trading day to capture and maintain your emotional mindset at its most proficient state: objective, dynamic, equanimous. Any divergence in your mood from this ideal state will create a jarring sensation that will stand out easily against the backdrop of your favorite playlist -- the music acts as a continual acid test of your emotional condition. At any moment you find yourself having difficulty enjoying a song from your all-time favorite band, then it's likely you'll have similar trouble maintaining your objectivity while making trading decisions. Stand up, take a few deep breaths, and give yourself a break from the screen -- don't go back until you're capable of singing along with the chorus of the next track.