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Start My Day & Finish My Day - The Power of Trading Routines

· 10 min read
Karthik
Karthik
Founder, TradeLyser

The best traders have rituals.

Morning rituals that prepare them.
Evening rituals that improve them.

Not occasionally. Daily.

Let me show you the two most important routines in trading.

Why Routines Matter​

The Science​

Research shows:

  • Rituals reduce anxiety by 40%
  • Pre-performance routines improve results by 25%
  • Post-performance reviews accelerate learning by 3x

Top performers in all fields use routines:

  • Surgeons: Pre-op checklists
  • Pilots: Pre-flight procedures
  • Athletes: Pre-game warmups
  • Traders: Start My Day & Finish My Day

The Problem Without Routines​

Random trading:

  • Wake up → Market opens → React to whatever happens
  • Market closes → Leave desk → Repeat tomorrow
  • No preparation. No review. No improvement.

Result:

  • Inconsistent performance
  • Repeated mistakes
  • Slow learning
  • High stress

The Power of Routines​

Systematic trading:

  • Morning: Prepare, plan, center
  • During: Execute plan
  • Evening: Review, learn, prepare for tomorrow

Result:

  • Consistent performance
  • Avoiding repeated mistakes
  • Fast learning
  • Lower stress

START MY DAY: The Morning Routine​

Purpose: Enter the market prepared, focused, and confident.

Phase 1: Personal Foundation (30 min)​

6:00 AM - Wake Up​

Physical preparation:

  • 2 glasses of water (hydration)
  • 20-minute exercise (yoga, walk, or gym)
  • Shower (mental reset)
  • Healthy breakfast (brain fuel)

Why this matters: Your body affects your mind. Poor physical state = poor decisions.

6:30 AM - Mental Preparation​

10-minute meditation or deep breathing

Simple technique:

  1. Sit comfortably
  2. Close eyes
  3. Focus on breath
  4. 5 counts in, 5 counts out
  5. When mind wanders, gently return to breath

Benefits:

  • Reduces anxiety
  • Improves focus
  • Enhances decision-making

Phase 2: Market Research (30 min)​

7:00 AM - Global Markets Check​

Review (10 minutes):

  • US markets close (Dow, Nasdaq, S&P)
  • Asian markets (Nikkei, Hang Seng)
  • Commodities (Crude oil, Gold)
  • Forex (Dollar Index, USDINR)
  • SGX NIFTY (Indian market indication)

Note key levels and sentiment

7:10 AM - Indian Market Context​

Check (10 minutes):

  • FII/DII data (previous day)
  • Any major corporate news?
  • Economic data releases today?
  • Results calendar
  • Sector rotation trends

7:20 AM - Technical Analysis​

Prepare charts (10 minutes):

NIFTY & Bank NIFTY:

  • Key support levels
  • Key resistance levels
  • Trend direction
  • Open interest data

Your watchlist stocks:

  • Update price levels
  • Identify potential setups
  • Note key triggers

Phase 3: Today's Trading Plan (20 min)​

7:40 AM - Market Bias​

Write down:

Date: October 19, 2025

Market Bias: Bullish continuation
Reason: US markets strong, SGX NIFTY +80, no major events

NIFTY Key Levels:
- Support: 24,500
- Resistance: 24,800
- Trend: Uptrend (above 20/50 EMA)

Today's Strategy: Pullback entries in uptrend
Risk Level: Normal (1.5% per trade)

7:50 AM - Create Watchlist​

List 3-5 specific setups:

1. RELIANCE
   - Setup: Pullback to 2,550
   - Entry: Above 2,555
   - Stop: 2,530
   - Target: 2,600
   - R:R: 1:2.8
   
2. INFY
   - Setup: Breakout 1,450
   - Entry: Above 1,455
   - Stop: 1,440
   - Target: 1,480
   - R:R: 1:1.7
   
3. [Continue for 3-5 stocks]

8:00 AM - Risk Parameters​

Set today's limits:

  • Maximum trades: 3
  • Max risk per trade: 1.5%
  • Daily loss limit: ₹10,000
  • Profit target: ₹8,000
  • Circuit breaker: 2 consecutive losses

Write these down. They're non-negotiable.

Phase 4: Mental Centering (10 min)​

8:50 AM - Pre-Market Checklist​

Review:

  • Trading plan created ✓
  • Watchlist prepared ✓
  • Risk limits set ✓
  • Platform ready ✓
  • Emotional state good (7+/10) ✓

8:55 AM - Affirmations​

Read aloud:

  • "I trade my plan, not my emotions"
  • "I control risk, not outcomes"
  • "I follow my rules regardless of results"
  • "I protect capital above all else"
  • "Today I will trade with discipline"

9:00 AM - Visualization​

Close eyes. Visualize:

  • Seeing your setup appear
  • Following your checklist
  • Entering calmly
  • Managing the trade properly
  • Exiting as planned
  • Accepting the outcome

3 deep breaths.

You're ready.

During Market Hours: Execute​

9:15 AM - 9:30 AM: Observe

  • Watch opening action
  • Don't trade yet
  • Let market settle

9:30 AM - 3:00 PM: Execute Plan

  • Trade ONLY watchlist setups
  • Follow checklist for every entry
  • Manage according to plan
  • No deviation

3:00 PM: Close intraday positions

  • Exit all intraday trades
  • Only swing trades remain

FINISH MY DAY: The Evening Routine​

Purpose: Learn from today, improve for tomorrow.

Phase 1: Data Capture (10 min)​

3:30 PM - Trade Journaling​

If using TradeLyser:

  • Trades already auto-synced ✓
  • Add context for each:

For each trade:

  • Strategy tag (which setup?)
  • Quality rating (A+, A, B, C)
  • Emotional state (1-10)
  • What went well?
  • What could improve?
  • Key lesson

Manual journaling:

  • Record: Entry, Exit, P&L, Time
  • Add same context as above

Phase 2: Trade Review (15 min)​

3:40 PM - Individual Trade Analysis​

For each trade, ask:

1. Was it a valid setup?

  • Met ALL entry criteria?
  • From my planned watchlist?
  • Right market conditions?

2. Did I execute correctly?

  • Followed entry plan?
  • Set stop immediately?
  • Managed as planned?
  • Exited per rules?

3. What was the outcome?

  • Win or loss?
  • Expected or unexpected?
  • What did I learn?

Grade each trade: A, B, C, or F

  • A: Perfect execution
  • B: Good execution, minor issues
  • C: Poor execution, major issues
  • F: Completely broke rules

Phase 3: Daily Performance Review (10 min)​

3:55 PM - Today's Statistics​

Calculate:

  • Total trades: [X]
  • Wins: [X] | Losses: [X]
  • Win rate: [X]%
  • P&L: ₹[X]
  • Largest win: ₹[X]
  • Largest loss: ₹[X]
  • Risk taken: [X]%

Compare to plan:

  • Planned trades: 3 | Actual: [X]
  • Planned risk: 1.5% | Actual: [X]%
  • Stayed within limits? Yes/No

Phase 4: Rule Adherence Check (5 min)​

4:05 PM - Discipline Score​

Rate yourself on each rule:

Today's Rules (Y/N):
□ Traded only watchlist setups (Y)
□ Followed position sizing (Y)
□ Set stops immediately (Y)
□ Honored stop losses (N - moved one)
□ Stayed within trade limit (Y)
□ Exited by 3:00 PM (Y)

Score: 5/6 = 83% adherence

Rule broken: Moved stop loss on Trade 2
Cost: ₹2,500 extra loss
Lesson: Never move stops against me

Phase 5: Pattern Recognition (10 min)​

4:10 PM - What Did I Learn?​

Answer:

1. What went well today? Example: "Waited patiently for A+ setup. Entry was perfect."

2. What didn't go well? Example: "Broke rule by moving stop loss when emotional."

3. What pattern do I notice? Example: "This is 3rd time this week I move stops. Pattern forming."

4. What will I do differently tomorrow? Example: "Set stops and WALK AWAY. No screen watching."

5. Key insight from today: Example: "My best trades are when I wait. My worst are when I force."

Phase 6: Tomorrow's Preparation (10 min)​

4:20 PM - Plan for Tomorrow​

Quick prep:

1. Review tomorrow's calendar:

  • Any major events? (RBI, data releases)
  • Any results announcements?
  • Any holidays?

2. Preliminary watchlist:

  • Scan for potential setups
  • Note stocks to watch
  • Set price alerts

3. Focus area:

  • What's tomorrow's ONE improvement?
  • Example: "Wait for volume confirmation before entry"

Phase 7: Mental Closure (5 min)​

4:30 PM - End of Day Ritual​

Reflect:

  • Today I followed my plan: [%]
  • Tomorrow I will focus on: [ONE thing]
  • I'm grateful for: [One trading lesson]

Write it down.

Close TradeLyser.

Leave the desk.

Trading day complete.

The TradeLyser Integration​

Start My Day in TradeLyser:

  1. Open "Start My Day" module
  2. System prompts:
    • Market bias?
    • Today's watchlist?
    • Risk limits?
    • Mental state?
  3. Auto-saves plan
  4. Sets up alerts based on watchlist
  5. Enforces risk limits
  6. You're ready to trade

Finish My Day in TradeLyser:

  1. Open "Finish My Day" module
  2. Trades already captured ✓
  3. System prompts:
    • Rate each trade
    • Rule adherence check
    • What went well/wrong?
    • Tomorrow's focus?
  4. Auto-generates insights:
    • "You broke Rule X today"
    • "This pattern repeated"
    • "Consider this adjustment"
  5. Saves review
  6. Day complete

Time saved: 20-30 minutes per day

Quality improved: 10x better insights

Sample Complete Day​

Morning​

6:00 AM: Wake, water, exercise, breakfast
6:30 AM: Meditation
7:00 AM: Global markets check
7:15 AM: Indian market analysis
7:30 AM: Chart review
7:45 AM: Create trading plan
8:00 AM: Set risk parameters
8:50 AM: Pre-market checklist
8:55 AM: Affirmations & visualization

Total time: 3 hours

Trading Hours​

9:15 AM: Market opens, observe
9:30 AM: Trade Setup 1 appears, enter
10:15 AM: Setup 1 hits target, exit (+₹4,200)
11:30 AM: Watching, no setups
1:45 PM: Setup 2 appears, enter
2:30 PM: Setup 2 stopped out (-₹2,000)
3:00 PM: Close platform

Total trades: 2 | P&L: +₹2,200

Evening​

3:30 PM: Journal both trades
3:45 PM: Review execution
4:00 PM: Calculate stats
4:05 PM: Check rule adherence
4:10 PM: Identify patterns
4:20 PM: Plan for tomorrow
4:30 PM: Mental closure

Total time: 1 hour

Common Mistakes​

Mistake #1: Skipping Morning Routine​

"I'll just wing it"

Result:

  • Reactive trading
  • Emotional decisions
  • Poor performance

Fix: Set alarm 30 min earlier. Make it non-negotiable.

Mistake #2: Skipping Evening Routine​

"I'm tired, I'll review later"

Result:

  • No learning
  • Repeated mistakes
  • No improvement

Fix: 10-minute minimum review. Something is better than nothing.

Mistake #3: Too Complex​

"My routine has 47 steps"

Result:

  • Overwhelming
  • Skipped frequently
  • Unsustainable

Fix: Start simple. 3 core habits. Add gradually.

Mistake #4: No Consistency​

"I do it when I feel like it"

Result:

  • No routine = no benefits
  • Random results

Fix: Same time, every day, no exceptions.

Progressive Routine Building​

Week 1: Minimal Routine

Morning (15 min):

  • 5 min: Market check
  • 5 min: Watchlist
  • 5 min: Mental prep

Evening (10 min):

  • 5 min: Journal trades
  • 5 min: One lesson learned

Week 2: Add Structure

Morning (30 min):

  • Add: Risk parameters
  • Add: Trading plan writing
  • Add: Affirmations

Evening (20 min):

  • Add: Rule adherence check
  • Add: Pattern recognition
  • Add: Tomorrow prep

Week 3: Full Routine

Morning (60 min):

  • Add: Exercise
  • Add: Meditation
  • Add: Detailed analysis

Evening (30 min):

  • Add: Statistical review
  • Add: Screenshot analysis
  • Add: Strategy optimization

The Compound Effect​

One day: Small difference
One week: Noticeable improvement
One month: Significant edge
One year: Transformed trading

Math:

  • 1% improvement per day
  • Compound over 250 trading days
  • = 12x better trader

That's the power of routines.

The Bottom Line​

Champions don't have special talent.

They have special routines.

Michael Phelps: Same pre-race routine for 20 years
Serena Williams: Same serve ritual every point
Warren Buffett: Reads for hours every morning

You: Start My Day & Finish My Day, every trading day

No exceptions. No skipping. No "I'll do it later."

Because your future success is built on today's routine.

Take Action Now​

Tomorrow Morning:

  1. Wake up 30 min earlier
  2. Follow Start My Day routine
  3. Notice the difference in your trading

Tomorrow Evening:

  1. Block 30 minutes after market close
  2. Follow Finish My Day routine
  3. Write down one key insight

This Week:

  1. Do both routines every day
  2. Track: Did I follow routine? (Y/N)
  3. Compare: routine days vs non-routine days

This Month:

  1. Refine your routine (what works/doesn't)
  2. Make it automatic (same time daily)
  3. Measure improvement (before vs after stats)

👉 Use TradeLyser Start My Day & Finish My Day
👉 Download: Daily Routine Checklist
👉 Next: Using Elysia AI to Discover Hidden Patterns

Do you have a trading routine? What works for you? Share below.