How to Create a Winning Day Trading Routine: A Step-by-Step Guide
ACY Securities - Jasper Osita
Goal of This Lesson:
To help you build a simple, repeatable daily routine based on everything you’ve learned—and develop the emotional control to execute it consistently, with confidence and discipline.
This is another piece of the puzzle: how to show up like a professional, think like smart money, and manage yourself with the same edge as your strategy.
Let’s Start With a Truth:
Most traders don’t lose because they have a bad system.
They lose because they don’t follow one.
Success doesn’t come from knowing more.
It comes from doing less—with more discipline.
The Institutional Trader’s Daily Loop
Here’s the smart money routine you’ll follow every day:
1. PRE-SESSION: Planning Phase Before Trade Session (30 min)
| Task | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Setup 30 mins before trade session | Get ready before the market open |
| Mark ERL zones (PDH, PDL, session highs/lows) | Identify liquidity targets |
| Identify key IRLs on HTF (D1/H1) | Potential reaction levels if ERL zones are too far |
| Mark red folders | Are we risk-on, risk-off? Trending or ranging? |
Don’t trade yet—just prep. Like a pilot before takeoff, this is your checklist.
2. LIVE SESSION: Execution Phase (During Kill Zones)
| Task | What to Look For |
|---|---|
| Watch for SSS approach | Liquidity taken? ✔️ |
| Look for entry confirmations: CISD, iFVG, MSS | Shift in intent? ✔️ |
| Target next ERL or 2-3R | Next swing with 2-3R potential? ✔️ |
| Directional IRLs | Trend confirmation?Invalidation? ✔️ |
| Focus | Are you laser-focused in the charts? ✔️ |
Wait. Watch. Don’t rush.
Trade only when the model aligns.
3. POST-SESSION: Reflection Phase (15–30 min)
This is where most traders skip—but pros never miss it.
| Step | What to Do |
|---|---|
| Screenshot setup | Sweep ➝ Surge ➝ Shift ➝ Entry/Exit |
| Journal your trade | Include time, session, quality of FVG, confidence |
| Reflect on mindset | Did you follow plan? Did emotions interfere? |
| Log what you’d do better | Process over profit |
This builds your personal edge. Day by day.
Trading Psychology: What Separates Pros from Amateurs
Here are 4 truths you must internalize to master the mental game:
1. Consistency Is the Real Edge
Anyone can learn any strategy. But not everyone has the consistency to:
- Wait for confirmation: Time & Price
- Stick to risk management
- Skip setups when unsure
Consistency means trading your plan—regardless of this situation, you’re in a win or loss, you follow-through anyway.
2. One Good Trade a Day Is Enough
You don’t need to trade every move.
You need one clean, smart money-aligned setup.
Less is more. 2R a day is sufficient.
Waiting for the perfect trap and following the model = mastery.
3. Detach from Outcomes
You can do everything right and still take a loss. That’s trading.
Losses aren’t failure—they’re data.
Use your journal. Log your execution. Let your results follow your routine.
4. Manage Risk Like a Pro
Professional traders typically risk between 1% and 2% of their total trading capital on any single trade.
Many prop firms recommend risking between 0.25% to 1% of the total account balance per trade. This conservative approach helps traders withstand potential losing streaks without breaching drawdown limits.
Final Checklist Before You Trade:
- [ ] Am I trading during a Kill Zone?
- [ ] Did I mark the key levels?
- [ ] Did price sweep liquidity, created a surge, and form MSS?
- [ ] Was there a CISD, iFVG, MSS for entry?
- [ ] Is my stop logical and target defined?
- [ ] Did I follow structure—not emotion?
If yes → place the trade.
If not → wait. Or walk away.
That’s how pros win consistently.
Check Out Our Market Education
How to Start Day Trading:
5 Steps to Start Day Trading: A Strategic Guide for Beginners
8 Steps How to Start Forex Day Trading in 2025: A Beginner’s Step-by-Step Guide
3 Steps to Build a Trading Routine for Consistency and Discipline - Day Trading Edition
Learn how to navigate yourself in times of turmoil:
How to Identify Risk-On and Risk-Off Market Sentiment: A Complete Trader’s Guide
How to Trade Risk-On and Risk-Off Sentiment — With Technical Confirmation
The Ultimate Guide to Understanding Market Trends and Price Action
Want to learn how to trade like the Smart Money?
Mastering the Market with Smart Money Concepts: 5 Strategic Approaches
Mastering Candlestick Pattern Analysis with the SMC Strategy for Day Trading
Understanding Liquidity Sweep: How Smart Money Trades Liquidity Zones in Forex, Gold, US Indices
The SMC Playbook Series Part 4: How to Confirm Trend Reversal & Direction using SMC
The SMC Playbook Series Part 5: The Power of Multi-Timeframe Analysis in Smart Money Concepts (SMC)
Trading Psychology and Continuous Improvement Contents:
The Mental Game of Execution - Debunking the Common Trading Psychology
5 Steps to Backtest a Trading Strategy with AI: A Step-by-Step Guide
Managing Trading Losses: Why You Can Be Wrong and Still Win Big in Trading
Follow me on LinkedIn: Jasper Osita
Join me in Discord: The Analyst Guild
This content may have been written by a third party. ACY makes no representation or warranty and assumes no liability as to the accuracy or completeness of the information provided, nor any loss arising from any investment based on a recommendation, forecast or other information supplies by any third-party. This content is information only, and does not constitute financial, investment or other advice on which you can rely.
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