Any Full Time ES Traders Here in AU/NZ?

[Mr Liquid]

Going back ten years or so i had to work night shift. I found that i really suffered just before dawn. Then once i got home i could sleep really sound if i went to bed right away. Because i slept so sound i only needed 4-6 hours sleep to get though the day, which at that stage meant helping to build my house.

I've also done a bit of research on sleep since then as i've been plagued with insomnia from time to time. The recent data shows that 90 minute cycles can be quite effective if you can awake at the proper time during the end of a cycle.

Thanks again CanOz.

I came on here married to the S&P. Call it my first true love but after thinking about all the alternatives available thanks to you guys (which I had little knowledge about), I plan to eventually divorce ES (which will be painful) and go with one of the other more suitable instruments. Will definitely make the wife and kids happier and that's a reward that's priceless.

Over the next year, I'll learn about the asian markets and the ones from TB's list above and how they move as my methodology (discretionary using volume profiling mostly) would be applicable to any market so no huge learning curve required.

Regarding sleep, yeah my experience is shaping up to be similar to yours and I've only been trading privately full time for about 2 years now. What a journey

 

[CanOz]

Heres the depth on the FESX Eurostoxx Dec contract on IB's TWS.

 

[AussieMatt]

Hi All

I day trade USA futures full time. I want to get some insight from only full time traders who trade the US markets about how they manage their schedules. That has been the most challenging thing for me personally because of the time zone issue. US markets open here (Syd, Melb time) 11:30pm - 1:30am (depending on standard or daylight time) so trying to manage sleep/peak state for optimal trading overnight is a challenge.

I've tried many schedules and timings from full 5-7hr sleep patterns to bi-phasic sleep cycles whilst incorporating diet and exercise into my days. I've done a tonne of research on sleep, etc. So I have a reasonably good routine set in place now but there are days where inability to get that needed sleep becomes frustrating (which is natural as I'm fighting my body's circadian rhythm to stay up at night0

So insights into what works for you and what doesn't to manage sleep / peak state?

Oh and moving to US not an option. my boss (wife) said no go

Hi,

I trade FX fulltime and my hours are ~6pm to 2/3am depending on open trades etc, prior to that I worked in FX in a bank on the London shift for 2 yrs. For me it just comes down to staying fit/healthy, the weekends I tend to try and hit bed earlier and Mondays I am up before Sydney open for any gap setups so I get a little variety which helps. But eating healthy/exercise daily is really a must, I tend to stay away from the screens until London open and use the time to get out as much as I can. Hope that helps

Matt.

 

[Weatsop]

Honestly don't understand why you're not used to those hours by now. Just... go to sleep at the same time each morning, and wake up at the same time each day. Your body should handle it fine after a couple of weeks, max. Get outside plenty in the arvo, and have a well lit work area. Make your room dark to sleep in, and I strongly recommend cotton-and-wax earplugs. Those things rock.

Sure you'll lose your weekend mornings, but that comes with the job. If you want to trade those hours, just shift your whole day over and stick to it.

Me, I've just switched my own trading from US time to Europe. Can get the kids from school, eat dinner while I trade, get to bed at a reasonable hour (usually an hour or two after the US open), sleep to 8am, easy. No big task to shift a little on the weekends when I have my kids, get up at 7 to make pancakes. At least, that's the plan - only just getting back into trading after a couple of years out of it.