The markets are chaotic and unpredictable. If you’re not careful, you can be unduly influenced by the sense of uncertainty. Depending on your personality, you may be easily swayed by the market action, becoming stressed out when the markets are particularly volatile. It’s vital that you minimize feelings of stress and uncertainty so that you can trade in a calm, objective peak performance mindset. One source of anxiety for some people is the actual physical environment in which they trade. For some people, the disarray of their workspace can grate on their nerves and be a surreptitious source of stress. Make sure that your physical environment matches your personality. Doing so will enhance your trading performance.
People differ in terms of how orderly and tidy they prefer their workspace. Some people don’t mind a workspace that is disorganized. They feel it has a casual and comfortable, homey feel. But others find it extremely bothersome. They feel stressed out when they have to work in an environment that is not organized. To them disorganization means chaos, and chaos is associated with stress. Which type of person are you? Do you prefer a neat and orderly workspace or do you care? If you do care, it is essential that you take steps to arrange your workspace. Make sure that it is clean and orderly.
Remove all items from your desk and anything that interferes with you focusing exclusively on your screens. You’ll find that by keeping the area neat and orderly, you’ll feel less stressed out and in control. That said, other people find an orderly appearance equally distracting. They find such an environment sterile and uninspiring. They would rather have items around their workspace that inspire them. For example, placing pictures of their family and friends buy them reminds them why they are motivated to trade. Having a few of their favourite trading books by them also gives them a sense of security. Rather than being sources of distraction, such items make them feel comfortable.
Whatever environment you prefer to work in, it is important to make sure that it matches your personality. If a disorganized workspace bothers you, then it is important to take active steps to clean it up as soon as possible. Unless you do, it may serve as a hidden source of stress. By taking steps to match your environment to your personality, you’ll trade in a calm, objective mindset.