Believe it or not, until this week in mid August, my Christmas tree was still standing bright and tall.
Not decorated — I took the ornaments down in the spring. Just a plain pre-lit tree with soft white lights. My husband kept asking why I left it up.
The truth? The glow was soothing. At night, when we’d wind down with a Netflix show, I’d turn on the tree in one corner and let the moonlight in from the other. That gentle light helped me relax, get to bed earlier, and sleep more deeply.
This connects directly to my trading, and yours!
Solid Sleep is a Trading Edge
Whether you’re a day trader or a swing trader, if you’re not sleeping well, you’re probably not trading well.
I’ve built monitoring sleep into my own trading plan. One of the questions in my trading checklist is:
Did I sleep at least 7.5 hours last night?
If the answer is “no” or “I’m not sure,” then I don’t trade. Period.
That rule has saved me from many bad sessions. Instead, I’ll use that time to review my journal, rewatch recap videos, or study techniques I already teach. Trading is more than just executing — it’s also about sharpening your tools.
Our First 40 Trading Club members love how I teach them to “ask and assess” before each session. For many traders, a sleep check-in is one of the most eye-opening parts of that process.
Track Your Sleep Like You Track Your Trades
You don’t need complicated spreadsheets to monitor sleep. Even simple tracking can show you patterns between rest and results.
Personally, I use an app called Rise. It calculates my “sleep debt” — how far behind (or ahead) I am on rest.
No one gets a perfect eight hours every night. But when sleep debt piles up, that’s when you start feeling foggy, unfocused, and prone to trading mistakes.
Pay Attention to Timing
Sleep isn’t just about hours — it’s also about rhythm.
I’ve learned that if I go to bed hungry, I don’t sleep well. So I make sure to eat a meal or snack within three hours of lights out.
I also prefer exercising in the middle of the day, not late at night, so my body isn’t over-activated when I need to wind down.
And on the nights that I do stay out late, whether it’s networking or Bollywood dancing? Because I track my sleep debt, I know how to adjust on weekends or other nights to balance things out.
You Can’t Control Everything Around Your Sleep, But You Can Try
Life happens — young kids, pets, job demands, unexpected stress. None of us can guarantee perfect sleep. But traders can do more than shrug and say, “I’ll just push through.”
- Build sleep check-ins into your plan.
- Track your rest so you know when you’re running a deficit.
- Notice how meal types and times and exercise windows impact your nights.
These small factors can protect you from forcing trades on a tired brain.
And in case you’re wondering, yes, I finally took the Christmas tree down. Only because I found a lamp that gives me the same soft glow without raising eyebrows in August. Thank you, IKEA
✨ Key Takeaway
Better sleep equals better trading. Make it part of your plan, not an afterthought.
What about you? Have you noticed a difference in your trading on days you’re well-rested versus when you’re running on fumes? Share your experience in the comments — I’d love to hear it.
~Hima
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