Hey everyone, Ross here! Unfortunately, I’m a bit under the weather, which, believe it or not, has a bigger impact on day trading than you might think. Today turned into a max loss red day, a term we day traders dread. It signals a day where losses hit their upper limit. It was definitely not my finest hour, and I’ve got some takeaways that could help you learn from my mistakes. Let’s go through my trading day!
The Beginning of the Tumble
My day started on a rocky note. Being a little sick, without enough sleep, and a bit cranky didn’t set me up for success. Normally, I can maintain cool under pressure, but today my patience was thin as ice. I kicked off my trading in the red, managed to claw my way into the green briefly, but then, frustration kicked in. I ended up getting caught in a halt down—a scenario where trading on a stock is temporarily paused, usually due to significant volatility—and that flipped my brief green to a definitive red.
The Distraction Dilemma
Here’s where things went from bad to worse. I had some meetings lined up, which meant half of my attention was on those, and the other half sneakily eyeing some charts. Multitasking like this is a recipe for disaster. My focus was split, and without giving my full attention to either task, I made sloppy decisions and took unnecessary losses. It was a harsh reminder of a simple truth: focused, uninterrupted attention in trading, as in most things, is crucial.
Dissecting Today’s Trades
My trading day was a mixed bag, to say the least. Early on, I had my sights set on a few stocks showing promise, including XPDB. It seemed like a golden opportunity but turned into a frustrating lesson on hidden sellers and unexpected market movements, resulting in an upsetting loss of $5000.
Then there was the comeback kid moment with PIK, where I managed to scoop up a nice profit of $3400 and temporarily boosting my morale. But the market is unforgiving, and without clear winners driving the day, I found myself in a series of trades that didn’t pan out. From hopeful trades halted to unfortunate losses in stocks that seemed like clear winners, it was a sobering experience. I lost about $3000 on SELX and another $3500 on MEDS. Between all my trades, I finished down almost $10,000!
An Emotional Rollercoaster
Underneath the surface of buys, sells, and numbers, day trading is a roller coaster of emotions. Today, frustration was my unwelcome companion, leading me to make decisions driven more by emotion than strategy. Recognizing when you’re emotionally compromised is crucial in trading. Today, I failed to do that early on, and my performance suffered greatly for it.
The Bigger Picture
Despite today’s setback, I remain a firm believer in the importance of a diversified approach to managing trading profits. I funnel a significant portion of my gains into long-term investments, like a Roth IRA, allowing it to grow over time. This strategy not only secures future financial stability but also minimizes the temptation to overtrade or make impulsive decisions based on the day-to-day fluctuations of the market.
Moving Forward from Losses
Every trader has days that test their resolve, and today was mine. Accepting the loss, learning from it, and setting realistic goals for recovery are my next steps. My aim now is to break even for the week, slowly but surely chipping away at the deficit. Trading is a cyclical beast, full of ups and downs, requiring a steady hand and a resilient spirit.
Final Thoughts
Today’s trading session was a stark reminder that even the most experienced traders can have off days. However, it’s not the losses that define us but how we respond to them. By sharing my story, I hope to shed light on the realities of day trading and encourage others on this journey. Remember, each day is a new opportunity to learn, grow, and make smarter decisions. Thanks for tuning in, and here’s to better trading days ahead!
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Warrior Trading was founded by Ross Cameron in 2012. Today Warrior Trading is a thriving community of thousands of day traders learning to trade under the curriculum designed by Ross.
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