Building a Pre-Trade Routine for Peak Mental Performance

The quality of your mental state before you open a chart significantly determines your trading results. Here's how to build a consistent pre-trade routine: **Step 1: Physical preparation (15 minutes before)** Drink water. Have you slept enough? Exercised? Eaten? Trading on poor sleep or dehydration affects decision-making more than most traders admit. **Step 2: Mental check-in (5 minutes)** Ask yourself honestly: Am I emotionally neutral right now? Or am I angry/anxious/excited/distracted? If so, consider shortening your session or reducing size. **Step 3: Market preparation (30 minutes)** Check the economic calendar. Review your open positions. Mark key levels for the session. Write down 1–3 specific setups you're watching. **Step 4: Rules review (2 minutes)** Before opening your first trade, briefly review your core rules: - Max risk per trade - No trading without a setup - Stop loss is non-negotiable **Step 5: Set a session intention** Decide: Am I trading for learning, for income, or is today an observation-only day? Do you have a pre-trade routine? What elements do you consider non-negotiable?