I’m back at the gym for week two after an unintended six-month break, and I had an encounter with my personal trainer that directly relates to your trading.
We were doing lat pulldowns. Normally I’d do them with both arms at the same time—a nice, steady movement. This time, though, she had me do them one arm at a time, and by the later reps I was really struggling.
When we came back for the second round of the exercise, I noticed she’d lowered the weight. I looked at her and said, “Hey, weren’t we just at the weight that I used to train with consistently?”
She said, “Yeah. But getting your form right is more important than jumping back up to the weight where you left off.”
I just laughed and thought, I’m a coach, but I just got coached.
Form comes before performance
That conversation stuck with me because the same principle applies to trading.
With weight training, trying to pick up right where you left off after a long break can increase your risk of injury if your form isn’t there. Trading is obviously different, but the idea is the same. When you’re making a change, your form matters more than trying to perform at the level you used to.
Maybe you’ve taken a break from trading. Maybe you’re moving from stocks to futures. Maybe you’re switching from day trading to swing trading. Whatever the change is, even if you already have trading experience, it’s worth paying attention to your fundamentals before trying to jump back in at full speed.
Trading form looks different—but it’s still form
Now, I understand that your trading approach will have to change to fit the situation. What works in one market isn’t always going to translate perfectly into another.
For example, you don’t need to increase the amount you’re risking just because you’re starting something new. Maybe the position sizing that made sense in a stock account is different when you’re trading futures or options. That’s perfectly fine, but it should still be an amount you can mentally accept. If increasing your size changes the way you think or react during a trade, it’s probably worth stepping back for a bit.
Good trading form means making the adjustments your new situation requires while keeping the habits that help you trade consistently.
The second set taught me more than the first
Coming back to the weight machine, I realized I had been trying to pick up right where I left off. But once I listened to my trainer, I also realized something else.
I’m not totally out of shape… but I’m not exactly in prime shape either.
So I did the second round exactly the way she suggested. Sure enough, my form was much better. I completed every rep, and I still struggled a little on the last one—but it was the kind of struggle you want. My muscles reached full fatigue without sacrificing my technique, which is exactly what I’m trying to accomplish with my strength training.
I’ll be taking that lesson with me over the next few weeks as I get back into the swing of things.
Watch your trading “form”
The same reminder applies to your trading.
Form can show up in a lot of different ways. It might be the amount of money you’re risking. It might be your position size. Maybe you suddenly want to start trading multiple contracts before you’ve figured out how you’re going to manage multiple positions.
Whatever change you’re making, especially if you’re shifting into something new, take a minute to make sure your form is still there.
Watch your form first. The results will follow over the long run.
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