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Cleaning My Charts Like Cleaning My Kitchen

It’s Sunday afternoon. I’m not trading, but I’m doing something just as important.

I’m cleaning the kitchen.

The counter’s a mess. Crumbs under the toaster. A drip trail of coffee from this morning. A few dishes that “look clean enough” until you hold them up to the light.

So I wipe. I rinse. I reset the space.

Not because I’m obsessive.

Because Monday morning is smoother when I walk into a clean kitchen.

And somewhere between scrubbing the sink and resetting the grinder, I realized — I clean my charts the same way.

Mess builds quietly.

One week it’s an extra indicator I’m testing.
Next, it’s a new template I forgot to delete.
A couple of levels I marked but never used.
Suddenly, my chart looks like a supermarket shelf. Overcrowded. Distracting.

So now I build a habit around it.

Each weekend, I clean my charts like I clean my kitchen.

I reset my layout
I clear out old levels
I remove any tool that didn’t earn its keep

Clean space. Clear mind.

It’s not just about looking tidy.

It’s about removing friction.

When I start the session on Monday, I want to see only what matters. Price. Context. Key zones. A few tested tools.

Same way I don’t want to search for a clean mug while half awake.

The best charts are like the best kitchens.

Not fancy. Just functional.

Everything in its place. Nothing that doesn’t belong.

Reset your space, and the routine flows better.

And when routine flows, so does the trading.

Coffee Thoughts – Trading Alone Doesn’t Mean Trading in Isolation

by Gav Leave a Comment

I trade alone.

I’ve always preferred it that way. Just me, the chart, and my rules.

But here’s the thing I had to learn the hard way — trading alone doesn’t mean isolating yourself from the world.

In the early years, I went full monk mode. No forums. No chats. Just grind and suffer in silence. I thought that was discipline.

It wasn’t. It was ego dressed up as independence.

The truth is, some of my biggest breakthroughs came not from books or charts, but from conversations. A simple chat with another trader made me realize my risk rule wasn’t as clear as I thought. A blog comment helped me spot a mental leak I didn’t know I had. Sometimes, just saying your trade idea out loud exposes the nonsense.

You don’t need a trading group. You don’t need a signal service. But you do need connection.

A sounding board. A mentor. A fellow struggler.

Trading is already a lonely game — don’t make it harder by shutting the door.

Let people in. Not to trade for you. But to keep your head on straight.

— Gav, with coffee

On a side note, if you’re sorting out your foundation, check out my Back to Basics of Trading series.

The Quiet Trader: The Morning Run and the First Trade

by Gav Leave a Comment

A sluggish start on Monday. A rushed prep on Tuesday. And a not-so-great trade to kick off Wednesday.

That pretty much sums up the first half of my trading week.

But this post isn’t about the trades. It’s about something else that’s become part of the rhythm.

I started running again.

Nothing fancy. Just a short loop around the neighborhood before the charts light up. No headphones. Just the road, breath, and a stubborn mind waking up.

Some mornings, I feel sharp. Legs light, pace smooth. Other days, I drag my feet through every step, wondering why I even bother.

And yet, I always feel better after. Not because it was easy, but because I showed up. Again.

That’s when it hit me. Running is a lot like trading the first setup of the day.

The first trade rarely feels perfect.

Sometimes it comes early while the market’s still sleepy. Sometimes it comes late after you’ve doubted half your prep.

Some trades move well. Others stall out or stop you just when you thought you nailed it.

But the point isn’t to be perfect.

The point is to stay in rhythm. To trust the routine, not the outcome.

I’ve had mornings where the run was slow and the first trade was a loser.

But by mid-session, I’m focused. I’ve shaken off the rust. I’m in it.

Same reason I lace up the shoes, even when I don’t feel like it.

It’s not about motivation.

It’s about movement.

So if your first trade feels clumsy or your prep feels off, it’s fine.

Just start.

The momentum shows up after.

Now if you’ll excuse me, the road’s waiting. So is the chart.

And both reward those who show up.

What I Thought Was Discipline Was Actually Fear

by Gav Leave a Comment

I’ve been trading pretty tightly lately.

Rules set. Checklist followed. Pre-market done.
No chasing. No overtrading. Just clean execution.

Or so I thought.

That kind of structure usually helps me stay sharp. But last week, something felt off.

I’d mark up a level, see price line up perfectly… and still hesitate.
No entry. No trade. Just a bunch of second-guessing.

And of course, the move ran without me. Classic.

So I took a step back and opened the journal.

Here’s what hit me:

Discipline or fear?

It’s a fine line.

Following your rules is good. Essential, even.

But when you start hiding behind them — when they become reasons not to act — that’s not discipline.

That’s fear wearing a name tag that says “risk management.”

Here’s how it showed up for me:

“It didn’t check every single box.”
“Let’s just wait for more confirmation.”
“I’ll take the next one.”

All of it sounded smart. Safe. Professional.

But deep down, I wasn’t protecting capital — I was avoiding discomfort.

I didn’t want to lose.
I didn’t want to be wrong.
I didn’t want to feel the hit.

A journal check

One note I scribbled months ago saved me:

“Rules protect edge. Not your ego.”

That snapped it into focus.

So I sat down and trimmed the fat.

What are the core rules?
The ones tied to real edge — not fear?

Now I keep it simple.

The framework stays. But I leave space to think.
Space to act.
Space to be a trader — not just a rule follower.

My gut check now?

If I’m passing on valid setups just to “be safe”…
If the journal keeps saying “hesitated” or “late entry”…
If I’m blaming discipline when it’s really doubt…

It’s time to pause.

Because real discipline means showing up.
Even when it feels uncomfortable.

Until next time — trade sharp, stay honest.

Trading is About Location. Always Has Been

by Gav Leave a Comment

I’ve been deep in the trenches lately.

Refining setups, rewriting plans, backtesting like a maniac (manually with Tradingview’s market replay— no fancy automation), setting up accounts, even negotiating commissions.

It’s been intense. A bit draining, to be honest.

But stepping back gave me space to revisit old trading journals, flip through a few good books, and do some real thinking. Not the motivational fluff — just the raw stuff. The “why am I doing this” kind of thinking.

So if you see me sharing more quick posts like this — random wisdom, trading notes, whatever — it means I’m still grinding. Still learning.

Anyway, here’s something that hit me again during backtesting:

Location. Location. Location.

We say this about property all the time.

But it’s just as true for trading.

In real estate, you don’t just build anywhere. You study the surroundings. The flow. The demand. You consider the big picture. Why? Because you want consistency. Long-term value. Not a lucky flip.

Same thing on the chart.

That pattern you swear by? The one that used to print pips for you? It might still work — if it shows up in the right place. If it’s in context.

Context is location.

Where is price in the session?
Where are we relative to the range?
Are we inside value or chasing extremes?

You get the idea.

A quick gut check

When my trading gets messy, I go back to one line I scribbled on the first page of my journal:

Location → Path → Management

Simple. Clean. Enough to reset my focus.

If you’re unsure why something’s not working lately, start there. Pull the charts. Check your entries. Study the location.

Sometimes the problem isn’t the setup.

It’s where you’re trying to run it.

Until next time — trade well, stay sharp.

Trading Journal or Fantasy Log? How to Actually Use It to Get Better

by Gav Leave a Comment

Are You Journaling or Just Daydreaming?

How to Actually Use a Trading Journal to Improve

Let’s not kid ourselves.

Most trading journals are just organized daydreams.

Spreadsheets filled with screenshots. Notes like “entry was late” or “should’ve waited.”
Maybe a red cell for losers.
Makes you feel productive, right?

But here’s the thing—

If your journal isn’t changing how you trade, it’s just busywork.

I learned that the hard way.

Neat logs. Fancy charts.
Still kept making the same dumb mistakes.

So if you’re tracking trades but not seeing progress, here’s what’s probably missing—and how to fix it.

First—Let’s Clear This Up

A real trading journal isn’t:

A highlight reel
A digital scrapbook
A scoreboard for win rates

It’s a mirror.
Sometimes it shows you things you’d rather not see.
But that’s the point.

Here’s What Actually Works

This is how I use my journal now.
Simple. Real. Actually helpful.

1. **Journal Before You Enter**

If you only write after the trade, you’re already biased.

Start here:

What setup am I trading?
Why now?
Where’s my invalidation?
Am I trading the chart—or my feelings?

If it feels vague, don’t trade it.
Journaling before entry exposes hesitation and half-baked ideas.

Clarity before entry. That’s edge.

2. Capture the Emotion, Not Just the Outcome

This one changed the game for me.

Instead of “TP hit” or “stopped out,” I ask:

Was I confident—or just bored?
Did I hesitate?
Was that revenge?
What was my state of mind?

You don’t need a psychology degree.
You just need to be honest.

Real example:
After two losses, I’d start second-guessing setups.
Same setup, worse timing.
Fix? Halve size after two losses. Focus on execution, not recovery.

Found that pattern from reviewing emotional notes—not trade stats.

3. Review Weekly. Don’t Sugarcoat It

Every Friday, I do a short review.

Here’s what I look for:

Did I follow the plan?
Any emotional trends?
Was I consistent with size?
Did I skip valid trades out of fear?
Did I force any garbage trades?

If the trade made money but broke rules—it’s still a mistake.
Log it that way.

Don’t confuse profits with good trading.

Two Small Additions That Speed Things Up

A. Voice Notes

I started recording a 30-second voice memo right after trades.
No filter. Just talk through what I saw, felt, thought.

It’s raw. But it helps.
Especially when you replay them before the next session.

B. “Would I Take This Again?” Column

Simple column. Yes or no.

If it’s a no, it’s not a valid trade for your playbook.
Cut it. Move on.

Final Thought: Journal to Improve, Not Impress

Your journal isn’t for posting.
It’s not for looking smart.
It’s for making real changes.

If you’re not learning from it, stop decorating it.

Use it to catch patterns. Fix behavior. Sharpen your edge.

That’s the job.

Now—next session, start with a blank note.
Write what you see.
Then write what you felt.
Then write what you’ll do better.

That’s a real trading journal.

Cleaning My Charts Like Cleaning My Kitchen

Coffee Thoughts – Trading Alone Doesn’t Mean Trading in Isolation

The Quiet Trader: The Morning Run and the First Trade