The markets were all over the place a short while ago, and so were some people’s emotions.
I saw the headlines. I saw the graphs. I saw the posts from clients wondering if they should move to cash or double down.
But instead of watching the news or refreshing my investment dashboard every five minutes, I went to the park.
There’s a ride there, one of those little playground animals on a giant spring, the kind that lets kids rock back and forth until they’re dizzy with joy. My younger daughter calls it the chicken boingy-boing (I promise that’s the official name now).
And as I watched them bounce and laugh and live completely in the moment, it hit me again: this is exactly what most people need more of when the markets get shaky.
> Not more screen time.
> Not more strategy tweaks.
> Not more financial-boingy-boing of their own making.
Because when it comes to investing, one of the best things you can do is… stop meddling.
Checking your portfolio daily may feel productive, but it’s often an emotional rollercoaster disguised as discipline. It fuels anxiety, short-term thinking, and knee-jerk reactions. That’s not investing… that’s micromanaging.
The irony? Your portfolio is probably fine. It’s designed to weather ups and downs, adjusted over time to match your goals and risk profile. What isn’t designed for constant shocks is you.
As a Certified Financial Planner working with clients all over the world, from Houston to Hout Bay to Hyères, I’ve seen how much calmer and more confident people become when they stop trying to control the market, and start focusing on their own lives instead.
That’s behavioural coaching in a nutshell. It’s not just about returns, it’s about helping you stay the course without losing your peace of mind.
So next time the headlines shout, “Panic!”, maybe close the app, go outside, and find a chicken boingy-boing. Your portfolio will thank you. So will your heart.
