- Only day trade with money you can afford to lose.
Successful traders have a “little bucket” of risk capital and a “big bucket” of money they’re saving for retirement or another long-term goal. Big bucket money tends to be invested more conservatively and in longer-duration positions. It’s not absolutely forbidden to use this money occasionally for a day trade, but the odds should be very high in your favor.
- Be patient.
Paradoxical though it may seem, successful day traders often don’t trade every day. They may be in the market, at their computer, but if they don’t see any opportunities that meet their criteria they will not execute a trade that day. That’s a lot better than going against your own best judgment out of an impatient desire to “just do something.” Plan your trades, then trade your plan.
- Be disciplined.
Again, you need to set a trading plan and stick to it. If you’re trading on your own, impulsive behavior can be your worst enemy. Greed can keep you invest in trades that do not seem promising enough. Don’t expect to get rich on a single trade.
- Don’t be afraid to push the button.
Novice day traders often face “paralysis by analysis” because they get wrapped up in watching the candles on their screen and can’t act quickly when opportunity presents itself. If you’re disciplined and work your plan, actually placing the order should be automatic.
- Never risk too much capital on one trade.
Set a percentage of your total day trading budget (which might be anywhere from 2% to 10%, depending on how much money you have) and don’t allow the size of your position to exceed it. Otherwise, you may miss out on an even better opportunity in the market.
- Don’t second-guess yourself, but do learn from experience.
Every day trader has losses, so don’t kick yourself when the occasional trade doesn’t go your way. Do, however, confirm that you followed your rules-based strategy and didn’t get in or out at the wrong time.