Some days, trading feels effortless…
Everything lines up, clean setups are everywhere, and it’s a winning day…
Sounds like every Monday morning to me!
If you don’t know what I’m talking about, you need to. You can’t afford to ignore this!
Every Monday, the market kicks back into gear after its weekend nap… and that reset creates a unique opportunity.
As the first session of the week gets started, there’s a specific pattern we look for that appears again and again with uncanny consistency.
And it has given us some unbelievable gains!
Look what happened this past Monday…
After announcing positive drug trial results, Replimune Group Inc. (NASDAQ: REPL) surged over 130%!*
We hunt for these kinds of Monday morning spikes every single week.
Now it’s time to learn how to spot them for yourself…
Watch the video below for the full trade breakdown and strategy tutorial on my Monday Setup.
And then there are other days…
Without warning, that rhythm disappears. You’re not sure what changed. You’re doing what worked before, but the results aren’t there.
When that happens, most traders do the wrong thing.
Table of Contents
The Moment Things Stop Clicking
It happens to every trader eventually…
The setups that worked yesterday stop producing. You go from confident to cautious… and then to confused.
What used to feel automatic now feels forced.
This is a hard place to be. But it’s also a critical fork in the road, one that can either lead to discipline and growth, or emotional trades and unnecessary losses.
Step #1: Know When You’re Off
It sounds simple, but many traders don’t realize they’re stuck in a slump until the damage is already done.
They tell themselves things like:
“I’ll bounce back tomorrow…”
“Just one bad trade…”
“The market’s being weird…”
Honestly, unless you’re tracking real data like entries, exits, time of day, setup, catalysts, position size, you’re walking a high wire without a net.
That’s how you spot the patterns…
Maybe the market changed, maybe your edge dulled, or maybe you’re just pushing trades outside your wheelhouse.
You won’t know unless you measure.
Step #2: Do Less, Not More
This is where many traders spiral. When things aren’t working, they try to trade their way out of it.
They use bigger position sizes, more setups, and more screens. That just muddles the whole situation and creates unnecessary noise.
When your rhythm’s off, adding more pressure only compounds the problem.
The smart move?
Pull back, trade smaller, and trade less, paper trade…
Or take a break.
This isn’t about profits but about protecting your capital and your confidence until your edge returns.
And speaking of trading smarter, not harder, if options are your thing, you need to join my friend and expert options trader Ben Sturgill for his Simpler Options Bootcamp.
Learn more about it in his video below.
Don’t wait to register… Seats are limited!
Step #3: Start Journaling Beyond Just Numbers
Sure, logging your trades matters. But logging your mindset is how you really grow.
Your brain, your emotions, and your stress levels all show up in your trades.
Start tracking
- Your energy
- Sleep quality
- Outside stress
- Confidence level
- Mental clarity
When you see those personal patterns show up in your performance, you’ll know when to step on the gas…
And when to hit the brakes.
Step #4: Rely on Risk Management, Not Hope
When confidence is shaky, risk management is your guardrail.
This means using smaller position sizes, tighter stop-losses, quicker exits, and lower expectations.
Yes, lower expectations…
$100 green days might not feel impressive, but they help stabilize you. They rebuild discipline. They get you back in the zone.
And when your mindset improves, the bigger wins follow.
Step #5: Don’t Trade Alone
When you’re struggling, isolation is the last thing you need.
Find a support system. Surround yourself with traders and mentors who’ve been there and get it, not just the wins, but the setbacks, too.
That’s part of why I created the Daily Income Trader System, not just to teach setups, but to build a real trader community.
It’s a place where you’re not just taking trades but you’re building consistency with people who’ve fought through the same storms.
And I’m right there, walking that path with you.
Learn more about DIT during one of our FREE daily webinars.
Step #6: Zoom Out
If all you see is a bad trade, or a red week, or a chart that didn’t go your way, you’re too zoomed in.
Your P&L isn’t supposed to climb in a straight line. It zigs and zags. That’s real trading.
Slumps aren’t failures. They’re part of the process. They’re the resistance that builds muscle.
And I’ll use this overused phrase because it’s true…
Trading is a marathon, not a sprint.
My Final Thoughts…
If you’re in that phase right now, where trades aren’t working, your edge feels off, and your confidence is low, here’s your roadmap:
- Acknowledge the shift.
- Trade smaller, slower, and smarter.
- Journal everything, especially your mindset.
- Tighten your risk rules.
- Lean on a solid trading community.
- Keep your perspective in check.
Slumps are temporary, but what you do during a slump is what sticks.
Make the right moves now, and you’ll come out stronger, sharper, and ready for the next run.
Have a great day, everyone. See you back here tomorrow.
Tim Bohen
Lead Trainer, StocksToTrade
P.S.
This segment of the market soars when the Fed cuts rates.
Grow your account with this super-fast trading strategy.
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