I won’t go into much detail here but wanted to share some thoughts and quick tips from a professional day-trader who traveled to over 9 countries in 2021 with two monitors and a computer.
First off let me just say congratulations! If you have developed a system with edge and have had the consistent discipline to follow it, then maybe it is time to take the show on the road.
Don’t Rush It…Proof and Mind-set
For everyone who is a day-trader and reading this, you know how hard this insane game is. I will throw some caution out because I think it is really important you have had a large enough sample size of success before you think you “got it”. The last thing you want to do is have a little success and find yourself in a strange place, trading at a strange time zone and going through a drawdown. Emotions and drawdowns can snowball quickly. Make sure you are ready.
With that said I have traveled the world for the past year, in 9 different countries, and haven’t skipped a beat regarding my trading business.
My Setup
Get yourself a legitimate setup. I am not talking about one little laptop on the beach either. That sure is a nice picture, but it is not the reality for a real trader. You need plenty of screen real estate to keep a trading business going anywhere in the world.
I travel with 2 26″ inch screens, 1 15.5″ portable screen, and a desktop computer. My screens fit perfectly wrapped in bubble wrap in my amazon suitcase. I wanted something small but powerful for my computer, so I chose the Intel Nuc Mini PC and highly recommend it.
I will caveat, that my trading style is more about quality over quantity. I focus on 1-3 names/ideas a day, so if you are someone who is looking at 20 charts at a time and scalping your way to profits then this may be more difficult.
Another option for a single laptop goer is the Sidetrack monitor extension. I personally need a bigger screen, but if this style works for you then laptop monitor extensions might be a nice option.
Long Term Destinations
If you are staying in one destination long term say for 6 months or more you can ask the host if they have a flatscreen with an HDMI plugin and use that as a monitor or you could just buy and resell when you are there. There are plenty of Facebook and online groups for this.
You can also look into co-working spaces. I do not find them to be an environment I want to work, in as a day-trader with a multi-screen set-up. There are just too many variables and ways that things can go wrong here.
I will note that co-working spaces are nice to have bookmarked on your maps, just in case. If the internet goes out they usually have backup generators so they can be helpful in an emergency like needing to get out of a position on a moment’s notice
If staying somewhere long term you might want to check out this article for the most affordable digital nomad visas.
Practice Makes Perfect-ish
I can’t stress this enough. Practice your setup and takedown, practice your mobile workstation, and practice what you will do if there is no internet or the internet goes out.
Before going on my round the world adventure I would pack up my monitors in my suitcase, with my clothes, put it all in the car and go to a friend’s house or co-working space and set up.
Doing this exercise made me realize I needed a larger and longer extension cord, a wifi extender, and a backup battery (I work with a mini-computer instead of a laptop for the power so I needed a backup battery in case the internet went out). Things I would have had to deal with on the fly in a small town in Costa Rica (where electronics are expensive) if I had not practiced how I would transport and set up my workstation.
All the practice in the world can not account for every obstacle, but it will sure help. Know that sometimes things will happen that are out of your control while on the road. For instance, someone could accidentally mistake your luggage (with all of your equipment) as their own on a 5 hours bus ride to Sarande, Albania. That’s why some funds for in case s**t and traveler’s insurance can really come in handy.
By the way, that Albania bus story did actually happen to me. Luckily the bus driver was able to go back and retrieve my luggage for me. Never underestimate the goodness of people around the world.
My Schedule
The most difficult part for me was being able to switch from vacation to work mode and be fully locked in. I had to be able to explore and really experience all these new cultures but at the same time, I needed to get my work done.
We spent most of our time in Europe so that meant having mornings to myself and working afternoons to 10 or 11 pm. What worked best for me was working out before work (even if it is just 10 min) to get my mind right and stay focused. This article has some great tips for finding a routine as a digital nomad I would then grab some coffee and get in front of my screens earlier than normal. That really helped me simulate a morning routine, although it was well into the afternoon by then, and take some time to get zoned in and ready for the markets.
The more of a routine you can get yourself in, the easier it will be to turn off that vacation mode and focus on work. This recommendation is for any type of work, not just day-trading. If you are a digital nomad or remote worker it is very important to have some type of daily routine before work. I can’t tell you how much this helped me get with my workdays.
The Happy Day-Trader
What I learned most during this incredible adventure was that you don’t need a lot to be happy. Sometimes taking an afternoon off to explore a new place was my best decision. Life is short and the world is big.
During my travels, I met a ton of great people living off very little and were truly happy. As traders, we are always striving for more, but in my opinion, the freedom we have is the real currency. Always remember, an R (unit of risk per trade) a day keeps the 9 to 5 away. See you on the battlefield!
You can be free. You can live and work anywhere in the world. You can be independent from routine and not answer to anybody.
Alexander Elder
