Alerts that help versus alerts that distract
Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2026 6:11 am
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?
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?