Am I wasting my time?

[mEmmerrr]

1. The lower the TF, the less time to make a decision to buy, sell or ignore.
2. Using more than one timeframe gives context to your entry timeframe. Learn about the "Triple Screen Trading".
With regard to indicators, I'd recommend that you learn about identifying areas of demand (support) and supply (resistance) on price charts.
Any indicator *follows price, often with a lag.
3. I'd recommend that you learn about position sizing to minimise risk and maximise reward (aka risk management and money management respectively).

As previously mentioned, the indices have a specific volatility pattern. Therefore, you should avoid trading during the "quiet zone".

And, finally, why the FTSE and Dax?

*excluding divergences which are suggestive of future price direction.

I do use support and resistance too, and think I am pretty good with this, and have a good hit rate when it comes to picking pivots, but my problem is trading before things get there

The ftse and dax for a variety of reasons, but mainly that is suits me to get up early and trade the morning of the ftse and then go to lectures and stuff, afternoons / evenings I usually have stuff to do.