I’ll never forget that night. I was so sure of the market. The chart looked perfect, the news was all aligned, and I’d held a position in futures that was already showing a nice bit of profit. The plan was to close it in the morning, right after the opening bell, and I’d be looking at a solid win. Everything felt good, but as soon as I lay down in bed, my mind just wouldn’t shut off.
I tossed and turned, replaying the chart in my head. Did I miss something? I kept asking myself. What if there’s a surprise announcement overnight? What if a major player dumps their position and tanks the price? Every single possibility, no matter how small, felt like a massive threat. My pillow felt like a hot, itchy mess, and the quiet of the night was louder than any market floor. My heart was pounding like it was trying to beat its way out of my chest.
I kept reaching for my phone, just for a quick peek, even though I knew the market was closed. I was checking Asian and European markets, looking for any clue, any hint of what might happen when my market opened. It was completely irrational, but I couldn’t stop. I’d fall into a shallow, fitful sleep for maybe an hour, only to jolt awake in a cold sweat, convinced I’d just missed some catastrophic news. The funny thing is, the position ended up doing exactly what I thought it would. I closed it for a decent profit, but I felt like a zombie all day. I was exhausted, my head was foggy, and I couldn’t even enjoy the win.
That’s when it hit me. The real cost of holding a position overnight wasn’t the potential loss in my portfolio; it was the loss of my peace of mind, my health, and my sleep. I learned a really important lesson that night. Trading isn’t just about the numbers on the screen. It’s about managing yourself, your emotions, and your own well-being. It’s about knowing when to step away and trust your plan, and more importantly, when to realize that some potential profits just aren’t worth the sleepless nights.
I Traded All Day, But My Mind Traded All Night was originally published in Coinmonks on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
