Building a Trading Routine — Your Blueprint for Consistent Execution 🛠️

Routine isn't about rigidity—it's about removing decision fatigue and ensuring your edge executes consistently.

The Pilot Analogy

Commercial pilot: 15,000 flight hours. Knows every switch. YET: Every single flight uses pre-flight checklist (40+ items), takeoff checklist, landing checklist. NO EXCEPTIONS.

Why? One forgotten step = disaster. Routine prevents complacency. Checklist ensures nothing skipped. Process over memory.

What Routine Prevents

Error #1: Impulsive Entries (FOMO) — With routine: Setup must be pre-identified BEFORE session. Can't be impulsive if setup wasn't pre-planned.

Error #2: Wrong Position Sizing — With routine: Risk calculation mandatory. Must calculate before trade. Can't trade until calculation complete.

Error #3: Trading Into News — With routine: Economic calendar review mandatory step #2. Can't forget what's on the checklist.

Error #4: No Post-Trade Learning — With routine: Document trade mandatory. Screenshots, journal entry. Can review and replicate later.

The Statistics:

Group A (No routine): 48% WR, 35% execution errors, 87% failed within 12 months

Group B (Strict routine): 59% WR, 8% execution errors, 68% profitable after 12 months

Routine = 11% win rate improvement

90% of your trading success is determined BEFORE you click "buy" or "sell." Preparation is everything.

The 6-Step Pre-Market Checklist

Step 1: Mental Preparation (5 minutes)

• Close all non-trading tabs/apps
• 5-minute breathing exercise or meditation
• Read "Trading Commandments" (your rules)
• Detach from yesterday's P&L
• Set intention: "I will follow my process perfectly"

MY TRADING COMMANDMENTS (Read OUT LOUD every morning):

1. I risk exactly 1% per trade. No exceptions.
2. I NEVER move Stop Loss away from price.
3. I NEVER take revenge trades after losses.
4. I stop trading after 2% daily loss.
5. I only trade pre-identified setups.
6. I journal every trade within 30 minutes.
7. If checklist incomplete = NOT AUTHORIZED to trade.

Step 2: Economic Calendar Review (10 minutes)

• Open Forex Factory or Investing.com calendar
• Filter for "High Impact" events only
• Note exact times (convert to your timezone)
• Identify affected currencies
• Mark "No Trade" windows (15 min before/after)

Step 3: Intermarket Scan (10 minutes)

• Check US 10-Year Treasury Yield (Rising = USD strength)
• Check S&P 500 / VIX (S&P up, VIX down = Risk-On)
• Check Gold (Gold rising = USD weakness)
• Check Oil (Oil rising = CAD strength)
• Establish macro bias BEFORE looking at forex charts

Step 4: Multi-Timeframe Analysis - MTFA (15 minutes)

• Daily chart: Mark trend, key S/R, unmitigated OBs/FVGs
• H4 chart: Identify MSS/BOS, mark liquidity pools
• H1 chart: Find potential entry zones
• Mark confluence areas

Step 5: Setup Shortlist (10 minutes)

• List setups from MTFA that meet criteria
• For each: Entry, SL (pips), TP, confluence count
• Set alerts 5-10 pips before entry zones
• Prioritize by confluence

Step 6: Risk Calculation (5 minutes)

• For each shortlisted setup, pre-calculate lot sizes
• Lot Size = (1% of account) ÷ (SL pips × pip value)
• Everything is READY when alert triggers

During the session, your job is EXECUTION and PATIENCE—not analysis (that was done pre-market).

Execution Protocol

When Alert Triggers:

Step 1: Verify Trigger (30 seconds)

• Price reached planned level? ✅
• Confluence still valid? ✅
• No news in next 30 min? ✅

Step 2: Place Order (30 seconds)

• Order type: Limit order at planned level
• Lot size: Use pre-calculated amount
• IMMEDIATE: Set SL
• IMMEDIATE: Set TP
• Verify: Risk = 1% ✅

Step 3: Walk Away (immediately)

• Take screenshot
• Close active monitoring
• Set next check time (1-2 hours later)
• Hands off the trade

Total time: 60 seconds from alert to execution complete

Monitoring Protocol

Rule #1: Minimal Checking

Check frequency by timeframe:

• M15 trades: Every 30-60 minutes
• H1 trades: Every 1-2 hours
• H4 trades: Every 4 hours
• Daily trades: Once per day

Study results: Traders who checked every 5 minutes: 42% moved SL, 44% WR. Traders who checked 1-2× only: 6% moved SL, 61% WR. More checking = more interference = worse results.

Rule #2: Permitted Actions ONLY

What You CAN Do: Move SL TO break-even, Take partial profit at T1, Trail stop, Exit if opposite MSS forms

What You CANNOT Do: Move SL away from price, Move TP further, Add to losing position, Exit because "it feels wrong"

The Post-Market Routine

After the session, the review process turns experience into skill.

The 4-Step Post-Trade Protocol

Step 1: Immediate Documentation (10 minutes per trade)

• Screenshot: Capture chart with entry, SL, TP, exit marked
• Open journal, create new entry
• Record: Trade #, Date/Time, Pair, Entry/SL/TP, Lot size, Result

Step 2: Psychology Notes (5 minutes per trade)

• Pre-trade state: Emotional, FOMO, Confidence levels
• In-trade behavior: Chart checks, Urges to move SL/TP
• Post-trade reflection: Satisfied with execution? Any regrets? Lessons?

Step 3: Update Statistics (10 minutes)

• Add trade to running stats
• Update monthly tracker
• Calculate win rate, total R, average R per trade

Step 4: Platform Shutdown (5 minutes)

• Save all journal entries
• Close TradingView/MT4/MT5
• Set alarm for tomorrow's pre-market time
• DONE - no "one more check"

Mental transition: "Trading session is over. I am now OFF duty." Clear boundary between trading and life.