Alerts that help versus alerts that distract

[Shadow Trader]

Alerts free the mind from staring at the screen. Price touching a level, a spread widening, a news release in ten minutes, a margin level dropping. All useful.

Too many alerts create the opposite effect. Constant pinging trains the brain to ignore them, and eventually the important one goes unnoticed.

A short list of alert types works best:

1. Calendar reminders for high-impact news, set thirty minutes ahead.

2. Price alerts at only the key levels for the day.

3. Spread alerts when it exceeds a set threshold.

4. Margin or drawdown alerts tied to the daily loss limit.

Distinct sounds for each type help the brain categorise without looking. A low tone for calendar, a sharper one for margin.

Review the alert list weekly. Delete any that never led to action. Every alert should have a clear response attached to it.

Which alerts get ignored most often, and what does that suggest?