[Nicholas]

I work a pretty demanding 9 to 5 in in digital marketing, and lately I’ve been really interested in getting into day trading as a side hustle. My main problem is that my job keeps me busy with meetings, deadlines, and a lot of screen time already. I know day trading requires quick decision making and market awareness, which seems tough to manage while also handling work responsibilities.

Has anyone here managed to balance both? Do you trade during breaks, or do you focus on pre market and after hours? Also, how do you handle the mental load of switching between work stress and trading stress?

Would love to hear experiences – whether it’s working out well or turning into a total headache!

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[Lucas]

Can it be? Yes. Should it be? Probably not.

Day trading demands fast reactions, deep market knowledge, not to mention a relentless grip on your emotions. Unlike flipping sneakers or running an Etsy shop, the market won’t wait for you to finish your lunch break.

Make day trading your ‘side hustle’ and you might get a very expensive lesson in humility.

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[Sal]

The haters will say no. But the reality is it’s flipping hard.

Pre and post market trading might make sense from the perspective that you’re juggling your day job, which sounds busy, but yuou got risks like low liquidity, wild price swings, execution slippage, and wider spreads, all of which could kill your gains.

Could you spare some time in the working day (market opening hours)?

 

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[Nicholas]

I think this is my problem mate. With my current workload I would struggle to really commit hours to it between 9 and 5.  Is it a non-starter if I can’t trade during regular trading hours?

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[Steve]

Why chase the odd penny when you can make dollars with some patience? Most day traders lose money, not because they’re dumb, but because they underestimate the markets. If you want an activity that’s more suited to a “side hustle,” have a think about swing trading or longer term investing. Just my opinion of course.

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[Nicholas]

Thanks but I already invest over the long term. I want to try a more active type of trading where returns might come sooner.

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[ABTrading87]

Yes, but only if you build it like a business, not a get rich quick scheme like it’s probably been sold to you online.

If you want day trading to be a legitimate side hustle, treat it like one. That means:

• Learning market psychology and technical analysis.
• Testing strategies before risking real money.
• Setting clear risk limits and knowing when to get out.

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[Nicholas]

I am willing to learn all these things! I’m not a mug, I know it’s not a get rich quick type of thing.

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[John]

Alright, listen up – if your marketing gig already has you drowning in deadlines, do yourself a favour and stay in your lane.

I’m telling you, trading – especially intraday trading – isn’t some casual side hustle you can squeeze in between Zoom meetings. The learning curve is massive. And trust me, if you try to juggle both, that stress could spill over into your day job, and next thing you know, both your trades and your career are taking a hit.

What’s your actual experience in the markets? And why are you eyeing day trading in the first place? Chasing thrills or extra cash?

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[Author]

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