This:
- Journal the process, not the trade.
- Map the pattern of your compulsive behaviours (by recording screen)
- to identify triggers (heat behind ears)
- Rehearse pattern interrupts (visualisation) in advance.
- Shift your perspective: Focus on YOU not the market.
Great question!
A few habits that really helped me shift gears:
1️⃣ I started journaling every single trade with a focus on how I felt during the setup, execution, and exit. I recorded my screen every day, and if something stood out, whether it was a mistake or a great play, I would write down the exact time so I could rewatch it later with a clear mind. That habit helped me catch patterns I was blind to in the moment and made my journaling way more meaningful.
2️⃣ I learned to recognize the early signs of tilt before it got dangerous. For me, it was heat behind my ears. That was the signal. The second I felt it, I would close out of any open trades immediately and walk away from my station. That simple rule protected me from some of my worst impulses.
3️⃣ My morning routine became centered around meditation and visualization. I would sit quietly and walk myself through past trades where I stayed calm and executed with precision. I would replay those moments in my mind and tap into that same feeling to start the day on the right frequency and vibration (sorry if this loses some of you, but this is what works for me).
4️⃣ I stopped chasing perfect trades and started focusing on consistent process. I let go of the idea that I had to win every setup and instead put my energy into showing up with discipline and MANAGING my own emotional state. Once I made that mental shift, everything started to improve.
Trading finally started to click when I stopped trying to control the market and started learning how to manage myself in the worst and best of times ✅