14th-19th July: R-1.2

Monday Issues:  Trading off a weak level of S (bit rusty)

Wednesday Issues:  Good trading just didn't keep at it!

Thursday Issues: Human error on Entry (hadn't actually triggered)

R-0.4 False Entry (Human Error)

UJ trade

R -0: Good Read But Apprehension Got in The Way

EU Trades (all in the chart)

R+0: Apprehensive But Much Better Read

EU Obs:  got to trust the plan ;-)

R-0.8: Trading a Weak Level of Support

EU Trade:  Simply a little rusty, as you can see technically the S I used was a PB but a minuscule one!

7th-11th July: R+0 No Trades, Being Too Hard on Myself

I have not been able to trade this week, I have had the time but not the inclination. I mentioned earlier in the week that I was feeling pressure from external sources but I have also been very busy in my other line of work, which has lead to me being pretty tired and struggling to get up each morning.

Last week I felt great, relaxed, happy go lucky, chilled out and willing to go with the flow.  This week I have not once felt that way so decided that it was probably best not to attempt to trade, as it would likely only lead to mistakes and frustration.

 This doesn't mean I haven't been stupidly beating myself up for not trading. I often forgot that trading is exhausting. It feels like it shouldn't be as I'm just sitting in front of a computer screen for something to happen. But being docile and observant for large chunks of the time and then having to suddenly become wide awake and proactive is tiring and stressful (an enjoyable stress , but stress none the less).  I feel like we all have to go to work when we don't feel like it. But my action this week was almost certainly correct as I really wasn't in a state of mind to perform the tasks well enough to trade successfully.

Summary
I have to accept that when I am exhausted not trading is the correct thing (When others go to work tired, they're just less productive, when i go to work tired I lose money). When I don't trade I need  a back up for what I am going to do with my day, something enjoyable ( a relaxed morning and then some study ./blogging). God if I'm lucky enough to be able to take a day off work when I want to I should be taking advantage of it, not watching day time TV and getting depressed that I'm not trading. 

R+0: Too much Pressure and Lack of Drive

Put a bit of pressure on myself to get up "on time" and "do the work" this week and the result is bugger all.  I didn't feel like trading yesterday, and forced myself out of bed this AM and missed 2 trades because I wasn't in the zone. Not sure if the answer is really that simple but last week I wasn't putting pressure on myself in trading or life in general and I had a lot of fun trading the market ( and did it relatively well for me).

I'm not saying that I don't need discipline, I actually think quite often I apply too much to myself which often has an adverse effect on me and ceases me up.

Another thing last week I was working some CBT stuff about longterm and Short term goals. Over the weekend I eased up on this and started Monday in a sort of  funk.  Perhaps I need to do some CBT stuff on Sunday Eve too...

UPDATE: Yeah the above is all true but the major fact is last week was the first normal one I've had in a month because I been moving and doing all the shit that entails. Then spent this weekend doing shit at mum's house which has now clogged up my flat and fucked it up and so now I feel (and want) to get this sorted before I start trading again because its a fucking tip. Duh?!

EU obs

30th June - 6th July: R-1.4

Incorrect Stop Losses / Tipping Points

Monday Issues: Too tight a stop on GU trade.

Tuesday Issues: Incorrect Tipping Point / ISL. Bought on a PCS level,  should have placed stop at the nearby prior low which was was most likely to be tested (and was and held up).

Thursday Issues: None other than not continuing to trade.  The final EJ trade took out it's tipping point and I should have reversed my position. 

R-0.2: All Trades Correct, But Missed a Few Goodies

EU Obs...(Missed a couple of Trades)

EJ Trades... ( Missed A, which would've got me in the black again)

R+0: Ticks Creating Levels and a Variation On My Setup

Update 06/08/14: yes ticks technically create new highs and lows, however you really only want to trade off a clear level as more people will be able to see it, thus strengthening it's effect. IE one after a clear PB/RL or clear and long stagnation.

EU Obs...( "A" is a HSL at 2 levels or R,  but  the 20EMA is not one of them. This is not really a new setup, it's just in a different position. Below it is on the 240EMA and R however I imagine it could just as easily be on D1S/R+R..... Also just before "B", a high that usually fools me was created by a tick test of it rather than a close below it,  thus the tick level I mention in the title)

EJ Obs.... ( Below I was uncertain on a high level before "A" as price didn't close below the HSL of the upswing, instead price just ticked below it. However this seemed enough for the market to accept it as a level and so I think I must broaden my definition. Thinking on this it does seem silly that I will enter a trade on a tick below a level but will only define a high or a low on a close?!)

R -1.0: ISL Tip...Uptrends Test Lows, Downtrends Test Highs

EJ Trade... (Ultimately this was a bit of a difficult trade to execute in terms of management.  Got the direction right but got stopped out and missed the move. I've got to remember that Uptrends test lows and Downtrends test highs)

EU Obs... (Much clearer highs and lows here and so a clearer trade.  However again the ISL might have been better placed at the prior high which is realistically the most likely place to be tested).