2024 started.
fresh year.
back to work.
new year’s day (jan 1) #
market closed.
spent day with A.
quiet.
reset.
no resolutions.
just… ready.
tuesday jan 2 - first trading day 2024 #
morning trades: 3 setups.
results:
- SPX put spread (mean reversion): +$820
- QQQ iron condor (mean reversion): +$640
- TLT call spread (mean reversion): +$480
day total: +$1,940
all winners.
first day back: exactly what needed.
account status #
dec 31 (2023 end): $366,200
jan 2 (first trade 2024): $368,140
2024 start: +$1,940 (+0.53%)
what’s different #
december: grief fog, barely functional, survival mode.
january: clear head, normal focus, ready to execute.
anniversary processed.
not “over” grief.
but processed the one-year mark.
mental space freed up.
therapy last week (dec 29) #
dr. r: “you made it through the anniversary. how do you feel?”
me: “relieved. exhausted. ready for normal.”
dr. r: “what’s normal now?”
me: “trading without grief fog. living with A. routine without heaviness.”
dr. r: “the grief doesn’t disappear.”
me: “i know. but the anniversary weight is gone. just regular grief now.”
dr. r: “which is?”
me: “background noise. not foreground paralysis.”
exactly.
market conditions #
december: light volume, holiday chop, few quality setups.
january: normal volume returning, clean price action, proper setups.
difference is massive.
tuesday: 3 clean setups, all worked.
december: lucky to find 1-2 setups per week.
strategy focus #
mean reversion only for now.
momentum paused until february.
reason:
mean reversion working perfectly.
why fix what’s working.
momentum requires sharper focus - will add back when ready.
position sizing #
back to full 0.5% risk per trade.
december: reduced frequency, same risk.
january: normal frequency, same risk.
3-loss circuit breaker active.
haven’t needed it since october.
keeping it permanent.
living with A. - new year #
new year’s eve (dec 31 night):
A.: “any resolutions?”
me: “no. just… keep doing what’s working.”
A.: “which is?”
me: “trading systematically. living with you. therapy. not spiraling.”
A.: “that’s a good list.”
me: “you?”
A.: “same. plus getting you to try more restaurants. you eat the same 4 things.”
me: “those 4 things work.”
A.: “you’re impossible.”
me: “you knew this when you moved in.”
january goals #
trading:
- target: +$5-8k per month baseline
- win rate: 70%+ (realistic given normal conditions)
- strategy: mean reversion primary, momentum when ready
- risk: 0.5% per trade, no exceptions
psychological:
- maintain routine (wake 4am, trade, breakfast with A., code)
- therapy 2x/week (tuesdays/fridays)
- don’t spiral on losing days
- circuit breaker if needed
relationship:
- try A’s restaurant suggestions (apparently important)
- keep adding to places list (keeps things fun)
- communicate when grief hits (don’t withdraw)
system:
- trust the process
- no revenge trading
- filters enforced
- patience over forcing trades
comparing to december #
december first week: +$400 (barely functional)
january first day: +$1,940 (sharp focus)
difference:
december: trading through grief fog.
january: trading with clear head.
processed anniversary = freed mental bandwidth.
tonight #
first trading day 2024 done.
+$1,940.
all winners.
felt normal.
not struggling.
not forcing.
just… trading system.
this is what works.
3:15am wednesday. first trading day 2024. +$1,940. all winners. mental fog gone after processing anniversary. ready for normal year. A. wants me to try new restaurants apparently.
-AK