My Life Experiment with Day Trading: Lessons Learned

After 15+ years of investing with a solid long-term CAGR of around 16%—primarily through mutual funds—I decided to finally scratch an itch I’d had for years: **day trading**. It was 2021, and while juggling a part-time MBA, I thought it was the perfect time to chase this dream and remove that lingering FOMO of "what if I had tried trading?" I didn’t just dip my toes in. I went full in—**day trading and even options trading**, mostly buying. There were thrilling moments like making ₹25,000 in a day and devastating ones like losing ₹29,000 in a single trade. I wasn't gambling randomly either. I read extensively, took multiple courses, including a full-term course at a top-tier IIM during my MBA, and dived into the wisdom of trading legends like *Mark Minervini* and even read books like *Trading in the Zone*. But after 10 months of this intense hustle—taking precious time away from my family—I did a hard calculation: I had lost **₹80,000 in total while trading**. At the same time, I had made **₹1,30,000 profits** by holding a few long-term stocks during the market upsurge. That’s when reality hit: **I wasn’t built for trading, and neither are most people**. SEBI’s own statistics suggest that more than **95% of traders lose money**. The addiction to trading is real, though. It was tough to resist the urge of constantly checking trading apps and tickers. I had to force myself to stay away from trading apps for months. It felt like breaking free from an invisible trap. And here’s the truth many won’t admit: **Day trading is a sophisticated form of gambling**, no matter how much you try to justify it to yourself, your family, or society. Sure, some people may get lucky or have better skills, but the house always wins. In this case, **the house is the trading platforms**—Zerodha, Groww, Upstox, and others. They make their profits on every transaction, whether you win or lose. I’m grateful that I walked away with only an **₹80,000 loss**. Many others continue to lose lakhs, if not crores, hoping they can turn the tide. **My humble request to anyone caught in this trap is to reflect on how it’s affecting your life and decide when enough is enough.** # A Better Approach Investing for the long term in **index funds** and a few **high-quality stocks** is what I’ve returned to. I also shifted my focus to **investing in myself**—upskilling and growing my career. In the last five years, I’ve gone from earning **₹15 LPA to ₹85 LPA**. No other asset class could have given me this kind of return on investment. More importantly, I now sleep peacefully at night. I don’t stay up worrying about Nasdaq, Nifty, or global politics. Sure, I stay informed, but I’ve learned not to let greed or fear control my decisions anymore. # Final Message If you're struggling with day trading, I urge you to step back and re-evaluate. **Day trading is a losing game for most people**. If you have a job or other career opportunities, focus on growing your income and long-term wealth instead. The mental peace and financial stability you gain will far outweigh the temporary highs of trading. Stay calm, invest wisely, and let compounding work its magic over time. 🙏