Every trader has their quirks. Some meditate before the open, some blast heavy metal, and some (like me) just need coffee and rules taped beside the screen.
Over the years, I’ve realized psychology isn’t just about mindset, it’s about habits. The small things you actually do every single day when money’s on the line.
Here’s what keeps me steady and why it matters.
1. Rules on Paper, Not Just in My Head
I keep my rules printed and pinned right beside my screen. Simple, direct, and impossible to ignore:
2–3 quality trades a day only.
Shutdown the PC after 2 consecutive losses.
Always follow the setup, no setup = no trade.
It’s not about discipline “in theory.” It’s about making it so obvious I can’t cheat myself without feeling dumb. I’m not sure if it applies to all but it works for me though.
2. Past is Past, Every Day is Fresh
One of the hardest lessons was not dragging yesterday into today. A bad trade yesterday has zero impact on the market this morning. So why let it live rent-free in my head? I treat every day like a reset. Clean slate. Fresh beginning.
But trust me, its not that easy when I started it LOL. But when I got used to it, I feel like my trades from the past doesn’t affect my mentality anymore for every trading day.
3. Losses Don’t Get Extra Credit
Two consecutive losses = shutdown. I don’t negotiate with myself, I don’t chase. The market doesn’t care how much I want to “make it back.” The moment I break this rule, I’ve already lost more than money, I’ve lost control.
I’ll be honest, I struggled to follow this rule at first. But when I stuck to it, it proved its worth.
One day, I was trading with friends on Discord. Some were live trading, others just placing their own entries. The market turned ugly fast. I took two consecutive losses and, based on my rule, I shut my PC down. My friends kept going. By the end of the session, two of them had completely burned their accounts.
Mine survived. That was the moment I realized how powerful this rule was. Walking away saved me, and it taught me that discipline beats ego every single time.
4. The Setup is King
I don’t trade opinions, I trade setups. If my setup doesn’t trigger, I don’t click. Even if the move happens without me. That’s fine. Because the one time I break that rule, I’ll remind myself why the rule exists.
Here’s my takeaway
For me, trading psychology isn’t about motivation, it’s about structure. I don’t hype myself up or read affirmations, I just follow the blueprint I built. Rules, resets, limits, and trust in the setup. That’s my edge.
Every trader needs their own version. This just happens to be mine.