Things are crazy out there right now…
Yesterday we had a short reprieve while the markets were closed for President’s Day…By the way, I hate when the markets are closed!!
But today we’re back at it and there are more opportunities than ever.
Bitcoin is trading around $100,000, options activity is off the charts, and meme stocks like GameStop Corp (NYSE: GME) and Chewy Inc. (NYSE: CHWY) are each up more than 90% over the last 12 months.
Welcome to the Golden Age of Trading Opportunity, folks! And if you aren’t already, get excited!
With all of that being said, the harsh truth is that being a trader, especially in this kind of market, takes effort, focus, and discipline.
It’s not for everyone, but if you’re serious, I’ll tell you the secret to my success.
I’ve established a daily routine….
And it’s the same one I’ve had for almost 20 years. I wouldn’t still be trading today without it.
There are many ways to get a jumpstart on success, but to me, preparation is the most effective.
Here’s what I do on a daily basis before the market opens at 9:30 AM.
Table of Contents
First of All, Get Up Early
I’ve been trading full-time since between 2007 and 2008, and I can tell you that there’s serious value in getting up early.
I know, I know, nobody wants to do it.
But if you’re awake and prepping while the trader on the other side of your trade is still in bed, you already have an edge.
That early morning energy is real… As I like to say, trading is like going to war, and if you’re up earlier, you’re alert and already outworking the enemy before the market even opens.
I wake up at 4:30 AM ET.
This is simple math: the later you wake up, the less time you have to prepare. The less time you have to prepare, the lower your odds of success.
Next, Get Moving
After you wake up, do something physical.
Yes, I can hear the groans from here…
You need to wake up your body to wake up your brain.
In trading, you’re always on the hunt for that edge, an angle, a trade that others haven’t spotted yet. You can’t do that if you’re groggy and sluggish.
Whatever you do, just get moving.
Fuel Your Body the Right Way
This one’s simple: Eat a solid breakfast.
I won’t tell you what to eat but just make sure it has protein, healthy fats, and/or vegetables.
And avoid the sugar…
Why?
Because if you’re running on sugar, by the time 9:30 AM hits, you’ll crash—right at the market open.
Trading is a mental game and you need sustained energy to stay sharp all day.
Start Researching
Okay, now onto the exciting stuff…
The first thing I do is to check the news and see what’s trending.
I use a mix of paid and free services, but you have to be aware of what’s going on in the world.
My favorite paid subscriptions are The Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, and Financial Times…
And of course, I couldn’t do anything without our Breaking News Chat service.
BNC separates all the noise from what’s actionable for stocks on the move.
Here’s how it works:
We have two veteran Wall Street analysts with decades of combined experience who monitor all the news feeds out there.
They cut through all the fluff and useless news for traders…
It’s about getting down to the right information and the details that have the potential to move stocks.
Get the Only News You Can Use with Breaking News Chat!
Once I identify the news and trends that matter, I start digging into press releases and SEC filings. This happens between 7:00 AM and 9:00 AM.
Some days, this takes 10 minutes. Some days, it’s longer. Either way, you have to put in the time to be prepared.
Build Your Trade Plan
By 9:00 AM, it’s go time.
This is when pre-market activity shakes out, and we start getting a clearer picture of the day’s opportunities.
Now, you write your trade plans by doing the following:
- Identifying support and resistance levels.
- Setting entry and exit points.
- Establishing your risk/reward ratio…I always suggest using a 1-to-3 ratio.
By the way, our Oracle system makes things really easy by narrowing the field to 15 top stocks going into the open.
Our StocksToTrade platform includes Oracle and all the other tools you need to do the things listed above.
STT is my top pick and the one I use every day.
PLUS, right now, you can get two weeks of both the STT platform and our Breaking News Chat service for $17.
Grab your 14-day StocksToTrade + Breaking News Chat trial today for only $17!
Now It’s Execution Time
By the time the market opens, you’ve prepared, done your research, and written your trade plan.
Now it’s all about your execution.
- If a stock hits your entry, you take it.
- If a stock hits your stop, you cut it.
- If a stock reaches your goal, you take profits.
You’re fully prepared so there’s no second-guessing and no hesitation.
My Final Thoughts…
Listen, I wish I could tell you trading was simple.
That you could roll out of bed at 9:29 AM, push that “trade” button, and make millions.
But we all know that’s not how it works.
The reality?
It takes work, focus, and consistency.
If you want to make it on that battlefield and come back to trade another day, you need to:
- Wake up early and outwork the competition.
- Exercise or move in some capacity to boost concentration and creativity.
- Fuel your body with the right food.
- Study the market and identify trends.
- Write your trade plan and execute it with discipline.
To gain more trading insight and mentorship, join my StocksToTrade Advisory service.
You’ll also get a monthly newsletter with a list of my top picks, three weekly videos with my watchlists, bonus reports, and more.
Sign up for StocksToTrade Advisory right here!
Have a great day, everyone. See you back here tomorrow.
Tim Bohen
Lead Trainer, StocksToTrade