When to PAUSE Trading – NOT Stop – 4 TimesThere is a time where you might need to PAUSE with your trading.
It will save you from a potential portfolio crash.
And it happens either when – The market environment isn’t playing nice with your system.
And there are moments when you need to step back from your trading.
But even when you halt trading, it doesn’t mean you can just take a vacation and chill.
No! The key is to track your performance each day, until the conditions improve.
This will make sure, you’re poised to leap back in when the time is right.
Let’s dive into the signs that it might be time to hit the pause button.
Big Drawdowns Over 20%
Picture this:
Your portfolio is sliding, and suddenly, you’re staring at a 20% drawdown.
It’s VERY rare – and I haven’t seen such downside since I started trading. But this applies to new traders who try to do too many things at once.
Anyways, 20% is Ouch.
If this ever happens, it’s a signal to halt trading and reassess.
Then you’ll need to analyze and see what is going wrong.
See if there is a flaw in your system.
See if the market is the right one to trade your system with.
Is it a market anomaly or is it psychological where you keep making silly mistakes.
Remember, it’s about surviving to trade another day.
Feeling Very Emotional with Trading Losses
Trading is a game of numbers, not emotions.
Now losses do sting. But that’s only when the risk is too high or you’re psychologically unable to handle them.
The trick is to manage emotions and take countless trades (wins and losses), to lower the effect of the losses.
But, if you find yourself riding an emotional rollercoaster with every loss, it’s time to halt.
Trading with a cloudy mind, over emotions and fear is a recipe for disaster.
Emotions can lead you to take impulsive and revenge trades.
And this will lead to EVEN bigger losses.
So, take a breather.
Step away from the screens and give yourself time to cool off.
Recenter your focus until you feel you have a clear, rational mindset for trading.
A trader who controls their emotions controls their destiny.
No Confirmed Strategy
Trading without a plan is like navigating a minefield blind.
If you’re unsure about your strategy or it’s not delivering consistent results, halt.
Spend time to refine and optimise your approach.
Backtest, analyze, and validate your strategy until you’re confident it can withstand the market’s ups and downs.
Only then should you resume trading LIVE.
A solid strategy is your roadmap to success.
Do Not Trust Trading
Trust is the cornerstone of trading.
If you find yourself doubting the entire process, it’s a red flag.
Maybe it’s because of repeated losses, unreliable signals, or just plain bad luck.
Whatever the reason, if you don’t trust your trading, halt. You will manifest a very negative outlook on what trading can help generate you during your career.
Remember trading is all about probabilities, risk and reward.
Use this time to rebuild your confidence.
Educate yourself, seek mentorship, and engage with the trading community.
Trust isn’t rebuilt overnight, but with patience and perseverance, you’ll get there.
Once you regain your trust, you’ll trade with renewed vigor and clarity.
FINAL WORDS: The Power of the Pause
Hitting the pause button isn’t a sign of weakness.
It’s a powerful strategic move to know when something is NOT working.
When you HALT trading you recognize when you need to protect your capital, preserve your mental health, and prepare for a stronger comeback.
Always track your performance and be ready to adapt.
Remember, the market isn’t going anywhere, and neither should you—just be smarter about your approach.
Let’s sum up the times when you should HALT trading.
Big Drawdowns Over 20%: Pause to reassess and prevent deeper losses.
Feeling Very Emotional with Trading Losses: Step back to cool off and regain a clear mindset.
No Confirmed Strategy: Refine and validate your approach before resuming.
Do Not Trust Trading: Rebuild your confidence and trust in the process.
