How to Enter Flow State When Trading

Learning how to enter flow state when trading can be challenging at first but through practice and repetition mastering this process can provide traders with a huge return! Watch the video to get the details:

A question I get a lot is “How can I perform my best as a trader?”

The key component to performing your best as a trader is really the same as any other field. It starts with your state of mind. We perform best when we are in a flow state or some call it “The Zone”.

Flow state is when we are hyper focused and can concentrate well on what we are doing in the moment. When we are challenged but not overly challenged and not worried about the outcome but rather enjoying the process. Loving what we do. It is a great state to be in!

There are eight primary characteristics of being in a flow state. They are:

1. Absolute concentration
2. Total focus
3. Time distortion
4. A feeling of reward from the experience
5. A sense of effortlessness
6. Being challenged, but not overly so
7. Actions almost seem to be happening on their own
8. Comfort with what you are doing

Flow state is achieved in four phases. They are:

1. Struggle
2. Relaxation
3. Flow
4. Recovery

Many people who have been in the flow state will call it the most addictive or most satisfying state that they have ever been in. Therefore they will continue to try to experience it again and again and again. Luckily, once you learn to achieve a state of flow, it becomes much easier to replicate the process to do it over again and over again.

The flow state with trading can’t happen if a trader doesn’t fully understand what they are doing. A person would need to know, and have practiced the skills of trading over and over again. They would need to have had enough trading experiences to enable the required information to be wired into the unconscious mind for flow state to occur.

How to enter the flow state when trading:

1. Eliminate distractions
2. Give it time
3. Love trading
4. Have clear goals
5. Appropriate level of challenge

What to avoid if you’d like to more easily achieve flow state:

1. Multitasking
2. Stress (too much)
3. Fear of failure
4. Lack of conviction

For traders it can be very profitable and rewarding to work toward trading in flow state or “The Zone”. It is achievable but it does take time and effort. Of course if you are having challenges achieving the flow state, we can help. A one-on-one coaching session is the best place to start.