Hi everyone,
Every trader goes through losing streaks at some point. I’m interested in hearing how experienced traders stay disciplined and avoid making emotional decisions after a few losses.
Do you reduce your stakes, take a break, or simply stick to your trading plan no matter what? What habits have helped you remain consistent over the long term?
I'd appreciate any tips or personal experiences. Thanks!
How Do You Stay Disciplined During Losing Streaks?
I experienced that this week, i thought BF has just given me a Red Card, no matter what i done it was a red field, my Strategy and edge are relatively sharp usually up £500 -£600 by end of a week better on the bigger meetings. It can only be something in the strategy and rules you set cannot really be nothing else, so i reviewed my data and rules, i then realised i was jumping in to quick then the real Liquidity in the market came along and blew market against me including the mystery 4K BOMBMERblackmonlance wrote: ↑Sat Jul 25, 2026 9:16 amHi everyone,
Every trader goes through losing streaks at some point. I’m interested in hearing how experienced traders stay disciplined and avoid making emotional decisions after a few losses.
Do you reduce your stakes, take a break, or simply stick to your trading plan no matter what? What habits have helped you remain consistent over the long term?
I'd appreciate any tips or personal experiences. Thanks!
but all is back to normal. Your doing something wrong with your market entry strategy you need to review and repair or you will just end up blowing your Bankstart with reducing your stakes, as it's often a multiplier to your feelings due to being inclined to care more (or less) about the outcome.
you'll want to also figure out if you have stock wiring for 'losing' i.e. taking multiple small losses may simply trigger you due to seeing red after red. just depends.
once you figure all that out first (how your brain works or your 'trading personality'), then you can create trading rules and your environment up to avoid triggers entirely. an example would be stopping at -20% down on bank for the day if you notice you get heavily emotional at -50%. or taking a break if 3 losses in a row if 5 has you revenge trading, assuming 4 losses is a risky grey area and 3 losses is safe. i had to stop trading for the entire DAY if I drew down x%, even if it meant my profit was up big on the day, which i always found interesting. Keep a journal and you'll figure it all out in time
you'll want to also figure out if you have stock wiring for 'losing' i.e. taking multiple small losses may simply trigger you due to seeing red after red. just depends.
once you figure all that out first (how your brain works or your 'trading personality'), then you can create trading rules and your environment up to avoid triggers entirely. an example would be stopping at -20% down on bank for the day if you notice you get heavily emotional at -50%. or taking a break if 3 losses in a row if 5 has you revenge trading, assuming 4 losses is a risky grey area and 3 losses is safe. i had to stop trading for the entire DAY if I drew down x%, even if it meant my profit was up big on the day, which i always found interesting. Keep a journal and you'll figure it all out in time
-
ShaunWhite
- Posts: 10816
- Joined: Sat Sep 03, 2016 3:42 am
It becomes normalised, once you have a long track record then you have the confidence that a losing streak is inconsequential in the overall scheme.
In the interim I'd suggest that you don't even look at daily or weekly numbers. Just look at the rolling 3 month view. You'll probably find that a losing patch that stung is barely noticeable along the overall upward trend. And there's also a good chance that your losing patch was actually just a reversion to your usual trend, ie you were winning 'too much' and are just giving some back.
It's nearly a decade now but I remember a guy called LeTiss, he's still around, saying that (I paraphrase) when you win £1 then take 50p and put the other 50p in a jar marked 'losses'. Then when the inevitable happens it's just money you never had anyway. And if you don't use what's in that jar then it's a Christmas bonus or money to burn on experimenting.
Everyone is different though. Just don't assume that you'll keep all of what you win, you'll be below your peak balance far more often than making a new high.
In the interim I'd suggest that you don't even look at daily or weekly numbers. Just look at the rolling 3 month view. You'll probably find that a losing patch that stung is barely noticeable along the overall upward trend. And there's also a good chance that your losing patch was actually just a reversion to your usual trend, ie you were winning 'too much' and are just giving some back.
It's nearly a decade now but I remember a guy called LeTiss, he's still around, saying that (I paraphrase) when you win £1 then take 50p and put the other 50p in a jar marked 'losses'. Then when the inevitable happens it's just money you never had anyway. And if you don't use what's in that jar then it's a Christmas bonus or money to burn on experimenting.
Everyone is different though. Just don't assume that you'll keep all of what you win, you'll be below your peak balance far more often than making a new high.