YOUR PRE-TRADE ROUTINE
How to follow your trading rules when you feel rushed
Start with one situation in which your rules become hard to follow. Notice what happened, what you felt, and what you did. Then choose one action to take before the next order.
Write an action, not a slogan
“Trade better” describes a wish. “I write down the reason for entering before I place an order” describes an action. Look through your list and rewrite vague intentions as actions you can recognize.
When FOMO hits: check your reason before chasing a move
FOMO in trading can show up when someone else’s profit makes you feel left behind. Separate that feeling from your entry criteria. Ask which condition in your plan has been met and what you would do if the move goes against you. You do not have to place an order while you check.
Impulsive trading: notice the moment before the order
A sudden rally is not the only trigger. Boredom or impatience while waiting for a setup can also become part of the story. In your journal, record what prompted the urge and what you did, including a decision not to trade.
Trading journal review: turn one observation into a rule
Example: “I felt bored waiting for my setup and opened an unplanned trade.” One rule to try might be: “When boredom makes me want to order, I close the order screen and reread the conditions I am waiting for.” Add the rule to your list yourself.
Read or listen when you need the rule
Choose when to revisit the sentence, such as before opening your order screen. You can also listen over a meal, on a walk, or before bed. Later, review whether you used the rule and rewrite any wording that was hard to act on.
Try a spoken reminder
I review whether I followed my rules before judging the result.
Pre-recorded AI voice. Press play to listen.
Turn this guide into one action
- Write your situation and one action below.
- Copy the sentence into the app’s add-principle screen and save it.
- Read or listen to that principle before your next trading session.
Notes are not saved or sent to a server. Print or save as PDF before leaving. This checklist is not a score for deciding whether to trade.
Start Principle Keeper on Google Play · About the app and maker
Make the words your own.
Use Principle Keeper to save and repeat your own rules. Record the trades you made and the urges you resisted in your impulse journal, then review those entries on the calendar. Your rules and journal entries stay on your device.
Explore the app ↗Your rules and journal entries are saved on your device.