Howdy, traders. It’s Bryce here today.

Today I want to share something with you guys that took me a while to learn. But once I got the hang of it, I started seeing positive results. 

When you first start trading, you can be a bit eager to start making quick gains. 

And that desire can lead to certain habits that aren’t actually the best way to turn a profit … at least not on a consistent basis. 

These days my trading style is way different than it used to be, and that’s improved both my trading account and my overall well-being. 

Let’s get to the most significant change I made that improved my trading results right away…

How to Adapt Your Trading Routine for the Better

When you have a goal in mind, you start to organize your life around achieving it. You take action to create a new schedule and lifestyle around it. This is usually a good thing. 

But if you don’t have the right goal in the first place, that can influence your actions in negative ways you never intended. 

Every trader starts out wanting to make as much money as soon as possible. I wasn’t any different.

But if you want to stay in the game for the long haul, you need to approach trading with a different mindset, energy, and strategy. Here’s why…

How Trading with a Long-Term Mindset Improved My Trading and Life

I’m a huge advocate of afternoon trading these days. I recently shared with you just how different my life was when I started trading and why I changed to afternoon trades. Here are the top ways this strategy can improve your trades:

#1 It can help you stop overtrading and revenge trading

One of the most common problems I hear traders talk about in the chat room is that they’re stacking up losses because they can’t stop overtrading. 

They start trading early in the morning and take a loss during the volatile opening hour, or worse, in premarket. Then they get angry and quickly jump back in for a revenge trade. It’s all downhill from there. Why? 

Because when a more reliable setup comes around in the afternoon, you’re too scared to take it. Mentally, emotionally, and maybe even financially, you can’t afford to risk another loss. Does that sound like a path to consistent trading profits?

#2 It can help you trade with a clear mind and reduce emotional reactions

Trades move faster in the mornings. That’s what lures the newbies in. They think the extreme volatility will get them to their goal quicker. 

Unfortunately, we’re all susceptible to emotional swings in the heat of the moment, so trading fast can actually work against us. 

Trading in the afternoon can have a slower pace. This is when institutional traders come in, with clear trading plans, higher volume, etc. A more stable pace in the afternoon can help you think more clearly and execute better trades.

#3 It’s better for your overall health 

As a young, ambitious trader, you might not want to admit it, but you need good rest. Every human needs an adequate amount of sleep (most people recommend seven to eight hours per night) to get their best game on. 

When I started out, I was glued to my screens, planning potential setups the night before, getting up to watch premarket moves (and getting lured into trading some, even though that was never my best time to trade).

Now I get to sleep in a bit more. My trading routine feels more like a sane, regular workday. Today, I value sleep and work/life balance, and I’ve seen that value shift improve my trades as well. 

Conclusion

Becoming the best trader you can become requires implementing multiple strategies successfully.

When you’re on your own, it can take a long time to find out what those are. That can lead to a lot of wasted time and wasted opportunities to profit. 

The best way to get a jump start on the competition is to join a group of traders who’ve tried it all, know what works and what doesn’t, and how to adapt to volatile markets. I hope you’ll join us all in the Small Cap Rockets Chat Room!