Trading psychology: FOMO, revenge and tilt
The three habits that cost beginners the most, and simple rules that stop them.
5 min read
Most losing accounts don't fail from bad analysis. They fail from a few emotional habits repeated over and over. The good news: once you can name them, you can build rules against them.
The big three
- FOMO (fear of missing out): chasing a stock that already ran. Fix: if it's more than about 1R past your planned entry, skip it.
- Revenge trading: jumping straight into another trade to win back a loss. Fix: after a loss, take a 15-minute break before the next trade.
- Tilt: a string of emotional trades after a bad day. Fix: the daily loss limit, with no exceptions.
Your journal is your coach
Log every trade: the setup, whether you followed your plan, and how you felt. After 20–30 trades, patterns show up: maybe your Friday afternoon trades lose, or your trades after a loss do. That's where you find your edge, by removing what doesn't work.
Key takeaways
- ✓Name the habit: FOMO, revenge, tilt.
- ✓Fix it with a rule, not willpower.
- ✓Your journal shows which habits cost you money.
Quick check
You just took a loss and feel the urge to get it back right away. What's the best move?
Put it into practice
Leak Finder (Pro) reads your journal and shows which times, setups and habits cost you the most money.
Education only, not financial advice. Trading involves substantial risk of loss.