Author Topic: Stop checking the stock market in October  (Read 5735 times)

RWD

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Stop checking the stock market in October
« on: September 30, 2019, 08:00:14 AM »
I used to not pay any attention to how the stock market was doing. Then the Top is in thread came along and I started checking it frequently to be able to follow along with the jokes. Now it's just habit. I go and type 's' in the URL bar and "sp500" comes up as an autocomplete and check it without even thinking about it. I don't feel like I have been getting emotionally manipulated by the movements of the stock market but I feel I should break this habit nonetheless. I am also sure it is better for my mental health not to be bombarded with the related articles about how the stock market is about to plummet/skyrocket that Google helpfully includes every time I look up the S&P 500.

Step 1 is to remove "sp500" from my history so my web browser stops recommending it to me. I am going to try and go all of October without pulling up the current index value.

Exceptions:
- I may see stock market numbers accidentally while logging into my investment accounts. I already completely tune these out so I am not too worried about it.
- If someone makes another post about how stocks are overpriced I'll grab the current S&P 500 value to attach to my thread list collection.

Anyone else interested in practicing a low information diet with regards to the stock market?

philli14

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Re: Stop checking the stock market in October
« Reply #1 on: October 01, 2019, 05:16:02 PM »
I'm in! I haven't been able to go a week, let alone a month, without consciously looking.

I will also not count accidental ticker views while opening bank accounts, investments, etc.

RWD

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Re: Stop checking the stock market in October
« Reply #2 on: October 01, 2019, 06:48:28 PM »
Day 1: Success

Today I disabled notifications for the Top is in thread. That should help with the urge to be in the know.

ScreamingHeadGuy

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Re: Stop checking the stock market in October
« Reply #3 on: October 01, 2019, 06:50:59 PM »
I will try this one.  One day of the month is done so I only have to be good for 30, right?

RWD

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Re: Stop checking the stock market in October
« Reply #4 on: October 02, 2019, 07:57:47 PM »
Day 2: Success

I almost clicked on the Top is in thread today when I saw it in the unread posts but caught myself in time. I also noticed a few posts on the forums talking about the stock market performance (or lack thereof). Ignorance is bliss!

erutio

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Re: Stop checking the stock market in October
« Reply #5 on: October 03, 2019, 10:47:53 AM »
I'm joining today, Oct 3, since I didn't see this thread on the first or second of the month.  Thanks for starting it RWD.

philli14

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Re: Stop checking the stock market in October
« Reply #6 on: October 03, 2019, 08:28:29 PM »
So far so good here. I put a sticky note on my computer at work with "NO" and that has done the trick so far.

RWD

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Re: Stop checking the stock market in October
« Reply #7 on: October 03, 2019, 08:46:36 PM »
Day 3: Success


So far so good here. I put a sticky note on my computer at work with "NO" and that has done the trick so far.
Haha, nice

erutio

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Re: Stop checking the stock market in October
« Reply #8 on: October 04, 2019, 08:27:43 AM »
Oct 3rd, Day 1: Success.

So far so good here. I put a sticky note on my computer at work with "NO" and that has done the trick so far.

This sticky note could be useful in more ways than one: 
"Hey philli, we have this extra work project for you."   No.
"Want to come join us for lunch out at this expensive place with crappy food."  No.
"Um...yeah..so we're gonna go ahead and need you to come in on Saturday...yeah...thanks"  No.

philli14

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Re: Stop checking the stock market in October
« Reply #9 on: October 04, 2019, 09:27:57 AM »
Oct 3rd, Day 1: Success.

So far so good here. I put a sticky note on my computer at work with "NO" and that has done the trick so far.

This sticky note could be useful in more ways than one: 
"Hey philli, we have this extra work project for you."   No.
"Want to come join us for lunch out at this expensive place with crappy food."  No.
"Um...yeah..so we're gonna go ahead and need you to come in on Saturday...yeah...thanks"  No.

Haha!

solon

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Re: Stop checking the stock market in October
« Reply #10 on: October 04, 2019, 10:24:23 AM »
Man, you guys picked a bad month to go off grid, what with the market's return in just the past 4 days...

RWD

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Re: Stop checking the stock market in October
« Reply #11 on: October 04, 2019, 10:28:59 AM »
Man, you guys picked a bad month to go off grid, what with the market's return in just the past 4 days...

LALALALALALALA

35andFI

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Re: Stop checking the stock market in October
« Reply #12 on: October 04, 2019, 11:00:28 AM »
Same here. I noticed that I subconsciously check multiple times an hour.

I don't make any decisions based on it but agree that it would be better to not even look in the first place.

I actually have 3 sites that I switch between: this, excelforum, and S&P 500 Google search.

MissNancyPryor

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Re: Stop checking the stock market in October
« Reply #13 on: October 04, 2019, 11:10:31 AM »

RWD

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Re: Stop checking the stock market in October
« Reply #14 on: October 05, 2019, 07:29:28 AM »
Day 4: Success.   Despite solon's best efforts.

RWD

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Re: Stop checking the stock market in October
« Reply #15 on: October 05, 2019, 08:20:20 PM »
Day 5: Success

brooklynmoney

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Re: Stop checking the stock market in October
« Reply #16 on: October 05, 2019, 08:47:48 PM »
I’m in. I just checked for the first time in probably more than a month. Nothing to see here!! I will check again end of year.

RWD

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Re: Stop checking the stock market in October
« Reply #17 on: October 09, 2019, 07:19:20 AM »
Day 6: Success
Day 7: Success
Day 8: Success

Not only did I stop checking the stock market I stopped checking this thread, haha. Going well so far.

erutio

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Re: Stop checking the stock market in October
« Reply #18 on: October 09, 2019, 08:14:18 AM »
Week 1: Success.

OurTown

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Re: Stop checking the stock market in October
« Reply #19 on: October 09, 2019, 08:37:50 AM »
I really like this idea. 

philli14

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Re: Stop checking the stock market in October
« Reply #20 on: October 09, 2019, 06:47:25 PM »
So far so good here!

ScreamingHeadGuy

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Re: Stop checking the stock market in October
« Reply #21 on: October 09, 2019, 06:49:12 PM »
This is tougher than I thought.  I hadn’t realized how often I would just google VTI throughout the day when I needed a brain break. 

Eight down, 23 to go.

philli14

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Re: Stop checking the stock market in October
« Reply #22 on: October 09, 2019, 08:01:55 PM »
This is tougher than I thought.  I hadn’t realized how often I would just google VTI throughout the day when I needed a brain break. 

Eight down, 23 to go.

Agreed. I may be "so far so good" but its been a pretty revealing few days. I've caught myself close to checking, out of habit, on a number of occasions.

RWD

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Re: Stop checking the stock market in October
« Reply #23 on: October 09, 2019, 09:33:35 PM »
Day 9: Technical Success

I entered VBTLX into Google today by accident/habit. Technically that isn't the stock market and I tried not to look anyway as I realized what I was doing. So I'm calling today a "technical success".

RWD

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Re: Stop checking the stock market in October
« Reply #24 on: October 12, 2019, 07:45:19 PM »
Day 10, 11, and 12: Success

RWD

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Re: Stop checking the stock market in October
« Reply #25 on: October 14, 2019, 09:04:18 PM »
Day 13 and 14: Success

I've been keeping my mind busy with a side project which has helped avoid checking the stock market out of boredom.

philli14

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Re: Stop checking the stock market in October
« Reply #26 on: October 15, 2019, 06:33:40 PM »
Success to date!

35andFI

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Re: Stop checking the stock market in October
« Reply #27 on: October 15, 2019, 06:51:09 PM »
Reminds me of what I heard today:
https://youtu.be/OOGU94eL07E

I don’t know why it made me laugh so much.
Don’t worry, no market spoilers!

ScreamingHeadGuy

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Re: Stop checking the stock market in October
« Reply #28 on: October 15, 2019, 06:51:46 PM »
Almost halfway there.

erutio

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Re: Stop checking the stock market in October
« Reply #29 on: October 16, 2019, 08:44:27 AM »
Week 2: Success

RWD

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Re: Stop checking the stock market in October
« Reply #30 on: October 16, 2019, 09:12:23 PM »
Day 15 and 16: Success

Past the halfway point!

Car Jack

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Re: Stop checking the stock market in October
« Reply #31 on: October 18, 2019, 06:44:03 AM »
This is sounding like the most successful Seinfeld episode ever.

RWD

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Re: Stop checking the stock market in October
« Reply #32 on: October 18, 2019, 08:32:35 PM »
Day 17 and 18: Success

RWD

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Re: Stop checking the stock market in October
« Reply #33 on: October 20, 2019, 09:06:31 AM »

ddoren

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Re: Stop checking the stock market in October
« Reply #34 on: October 21, 2019, 12:35:46 PM »
RWD - I am with you on this.  21 days in and doing ok.  Just had an expensive 3 days (car repairs, bike repair, dentist) so the urge to "check in" and soothe my money spending heebie jeebies is high.

philli14

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Re: Stop checking the stock market in October
« Reply #35 on: October 21, 2019, 07:58:48 PM »
Still good

ScreamingHeadGuy

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Re: Stop checking the stock market in October
« Reply #36 on: October 22, 2019, 05:15:26 PM »
I am still on the wagon.

RWD

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Re: Stop checking the stock market in October
« Reply #37 on: October 22, 2019, 06:06:31 PM »
Day 21: Success
Day 22: Success

middo

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Re: Stop checking the stock market in October
« Reply #38 on: October 22, 2019, 07:06:52 PM »
Everytime this thread comes to the top of the list.... I check the stock market.

Car Jack

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Re: Stop checking the stock market in October
« Reply #39 on: October 23, 2019, 12:50:44 PM »
Everytime this thread comes to the top of the list.... I check the stock market.

.....Kramer:  "I'm out"

RWD

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Re: Stop checking the stock market in October
« Reply #40 on: October 24, 2019, 04:53:05 PM »
Day 23: Success
Day 24: Success

dragoncar

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Re: Stop checking the stock market in October
« Reply #41 on: October 25, 2019, 01:43:52 AM »
Day 1: Success

Today I disabled notifications for the Top is in thread. That should help with the urge to be in the know.

I've got bad news for you

Spoiler: show
TOP IS IN

dragoncar

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Re: Stop checking the stock market in October
« Reply #42 on: October 25, 2019, 01:45:29 AM »
I check every day.  I feel like seeing market volatility helps train me not to care about volatility and hopefully when the next recession comes it will be less painful. 

Another approach is only check the market when it's up.

RWD

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Re: Stop checking the stock market in October
« Reply #43 on: October 25, 2019, 06:51:05 AM »
I check every day.  I feel like seeing market volatility helps train me not to care about volatility and hopefully when the next recession comes it will be less painful. 

Another approach is only check the market when it's up.

But how will I know if the market is up before I check it? :P

I agree that being used to and comfortable with volatility is good. I think I am already at that point. The December 2018 drop didn't bother me at all. This is more about me realizing I have a subconscious habit to check the stock market and I would prefer to be more intentional with my actions. It seems to just happen without me even thinking about it. And this challenge has pretty much proven that I was only checking it because I would see it pop up as a suggestion in my browser. If I had a deliberate habit to say check once a day at a specific time I wouldn't feel the need to break it.

RWD

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Re: Stop checking the stock market in October
« Reply #44 on: October 28, 2019, 06:51:22 AM »
Day 25, 26, and 27: Success

Nearing the end of the month!

erutio

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Re: Stop checking the stock market in October
« Reply #45 on: October 28, 2019, 08:00:07 AM »
week 3 success, last half week to go.

SwordGuy

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Re: Stop checking the stock market in October
« Reply #46 on: October 28, 2019, 08:44:35 AM »
All I can say is I have some good news for you...

At least as of 10:44am, EST.    :)

solon

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Re: Stop checking the stock market in October
« Reply #47 on: October 28, 2019, 08:49:57 AM »
All I can say is I have some good news for you...

At least as of 10:44am, EST.    :)

Right?

Did you ever think you'd see performance like this? And in less than a month, too...

RWD

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Re: Stop checking the stock market in October
« Reply #48 on: October 28, 2019, 09:05:48 AM »
I do know I was chasing VTI prices as I tried to convert from SPTM in my HSA over the last week... Lost maybe ~$50 from the money sitting idle as my orders failed to be filled.

philli14

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Re: Stop checking the stock market in October
« Reply #49 on: October 28, 2019, 06:08:59 PM »
Almost there. The anticipation for a sneak peak is like the week leading up to Christmas