💤 When the Market Sleeps: Why I Don't
During a recent rally, former President Trump commented, “Imagine how much higher the market would be if we didn’t take so many holidays.” A bold take — but as someone who actually uses market downtime wisely, I’m not in a rush to see Wall Street run 24/7.
For thoughtful investors, quiet hours are anything but wasted time. In fact, they’re often when the most meaningful progress happens — not in price action, but in perspective.
Use Time to Reflect
When markets close, my first instinct isn’t to refresh charts — it's to journal.
I keep a simple investment diary. It’s not fancy — just bullet notes on what I did, what I felt, and what I learned. It forces me to slow down and think: Why did I chase that breakout? Why did I hesitate on that dip buy?
That reflection is worth more than most real-time alerts. Over time, these patterns become personal risk indicators. 📖
> “In silence, you hear your investing voice more clearly.”
Sharpen the Blade
Closed markets are open doors for sharpening skills.
I rotate between investor letters (Howard Marks, anyone?), old case studies, and strategy backtesting. Recently, I revisited my notes on the 2018 Fed cycle — eerie echoes of today.
You don’t need to reinvent your playbook each time. But you do need to keep your tools sharp. Market hours are for executing. Off-hours? That’s training camp. 💡
Some of my favourite quiet-day reads:
Annual letters from top fund managers
Post-mortems of failed trades
Sector outlooks I normally skip during busy weeks
Connect with Community
You'd be surprised how many great insights show up in a casual comment thread.
When markets are buzzing, everyone’s shouting about tickers. When things are quiet, nuance comes back. I’ll often DM a friend about a thesis I’ve been refining or drop into a community thread with a question that’s been bugging me.
These conversations — stripped of hype — often lead to real edge. Not hot tips, but frameworks.
> “Markets move fast, but wisdom spreads slow.”
Rebalance More Than Just Portfolios
Sometimes, the best thing you can do on a market holiday is... absolutely nothing. 😅
Rest is underrated. Zoom out. Go for a long walk. Call your parents. Watch a documentary not about finance.
Investing is a mental game. Your edge isn't just analysis — it's clarity. And burnout doesn’t care how many charts you’ve memorized.
Final Thoughts
When markets are closed, it’s not dead time — it’s depth time. The pros use it to recalibrate, rethink, and reconnect. I’ve found my biggest leaps forward came not on trading days, but on quiet ones.
> Do you unplug or double down on research during market holidays?
Share your best quiet-day investing habit below — I’m always curious how others recharge and refine.
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