As you embark on your trading journey, you quickly realize how important the psychological component of trading is.
Theoretical trading lessons become more complicated when you put them into action.
Just when you think you have it all figured out, emotions creep in, rules get challenged, and you’re back at square one.
It becomes clear that there are two parts to every trade: the trade itself and the trader (you!). Many traders spend their time focusing on trading strategies, but these strategies are only as good as their operators.
If you want to achieve long-term success, you need to focus on the “mental” game as much as you focus on strategy.
Trading strategy can be refined by analyzing chart patterns, setups, and trade plans. Trading psychology is refined by focusing on you, the trader – the one who pulls all the levers and makes all of the trading decisions.
Here are some trading psychology tips to get you started.
1. Embrace the “Next” Mentality
Day trading is a fast-paced activity. There’s no value in bringing the baggage from past trades into new trades.
Whether you are crushing it or getting crushed, you always need to be prepared for the next trade.
If you dwell on your wins, you become ego-driven. If you dwell on your losses, you lose confidence and your trades suffer.
Learn from your past trades, but don’t let them become baggage.
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2. Take a Mental Note of Where You’re At
Don’t let one trade influence another trade. Approach every trade as if it’s the start of the day.
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3. Avoid FOMO
You are not going to catch every trade.
Write that one down and commit it to memory.
Your goal as a trader is not to catch every trade – it is to focus on the opportunities where you have an edge.
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4. Move on From Bad Days
Every trader has bad days, weeks, and months.
Accept it, move on, and prepare for the next trade.
Successful traders overcome adversity.
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5. Don’t Make Today’s Trade Tomorrow’s Problem
The beauty of day trading is that you can always come to the market with a clean slate.
Today’s bad trade doesn’t need to get worse tomorrow – unless you let it.
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6. Take Control of Your Trading
Are you controlling your trading or is trading controlling you?
Trading can be addicting, and it’s easy to get sucked into stressful trades.
Focus on work-life balance and make sure you are building sustainable habits.
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7. Focus on Consistency
Consistency is key to your success. Strive for consistency in all areas of life.
If your approach to trading (and life, in general) is all over the place, your results will suffer.
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8. Beware the Blinders
Great traders do not get overly biased.
Every trade starts with a thesis – and this thesis can be proven right or wrong.
If you stick to your original thesis despite conflicting evidence, you are being stubborn and overly biased.
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9. Focus on What Drives You
The monetary rewards of trading are only fulfilling for so long.
Focus on what really drives you so you can trade with purpose.
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10. Be Skeptical of the Obvious Trade
Be cautious of trades that seem “too easy” or “too obvious.”
You should always be prepared to be proven wrong. Overconfidence is a precursor to disaster.
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11. Don’t Dwell on Trading Losses
In trading, losses are just the cost of doing business.
If you want to make these “expenses” worth it, take away a lesson and move on.
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12. Overcome Large Losses
Certain losses sting more than others. If you face a large loss, focus on what went wrong (and be honest!).
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13. Stop Making Excuses
Successful traders don’t make excuses. They don’t blame the market or other traders.
Successful traders take full accountability, and this mindset allows them to constantly improve.
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14. Stop Comparing Yourself to Other Traders
There are levels to trading, and there is always someone doing better than you (spoiler alert).
Learn from other traders and get inspired by other traders, but DON’T compare yourself. Every trader is at a different stage in their journey.
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15. If You Are Wrong, Be Wrong
Being wrong is a part of trading.
If a trader has a 75% win rate, that means he/she is still wrong 25% of the time.
It’s okay to be wrong (repeat that a few times). It’s not okay to stay wrong.
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Share Your Thoughts
Which components of trading psychology are you struggling with now? What changes have you made that delivered the best results? Leave a comment below!
Thanks Nate you away know what to say to me when I need it
Definitely you addressed the main issues facing any trader as far as psychology is concerned which is to me the “most important ” thing in trading (in my opinion) because if your mindset is where it’s supposed to be then you will be saling smoothly but once your worries fears,lack of confidence, bad thoughts start creeping in then it’s DISASTER!!!
For me It’s always been and I’m still kind of struggling with letting things “go” I keep dwelling on losses,start calling myself names like : stupid,moron,…etc when I really focus and realize it was so obvious and I should have just done the opposite of my “ego”.
Calmness, Discipline and 100% on the trade at hand one at a time will take you a long ways and make you be consistent thus “successful “.
Thanks Nate,you are “truly” the symbol of “Altruism” and you deserve a big thumbs up👍👍👍👍
Confidence and Conviction are big issues, even before having some losses on my account. It got worse. I don’t pull the trigger when I should.
Cutting my winners too short and letting my losers gain momentum. SMH… Hard to stick to my plans.
This is great! Rhanka
Awesome Information
You are absolutely right on all the points you said Nathan. Thank you for reminding all traders
Awesome content
Awesome tips
Nate, Awesome information .
Thanks
You actually have out tones of value
Thanks
Thanks, Nate! I love all of your great advice. It really helps me to trade and especially to learn. I’m still very much a newbie and it really helps me with your teachings.
Your 15 lessons are spot on. I still struggle with the need to win and as a result I frequently fail to allow winning trades to run and I still continually need to remind myself to cut losses while still within my stop loss rules.
I only trade 2 instruments; ES and NQ. Still everyone of your “lessons” I relate to.
Excellent tips as always.
Thanks Nate!
Needed to go back and read this as I am struggling with FOMO again. Thanks again for making these blogs
Thank you Nate. Great content