How to Stop Forcing Trades and Start Reading the Market
What I had to unlearn to finally find consistency
Happy 4th of July everybody! Hope you all have a nice stress free day to kick back and relax a bit to give your eyes a rest from the screens. But incase you can’t entirely shut that trading brain off, this article is for you. Let’s get into it :)
One of the fastest ways to blow up your account or just stay stuck in mediocrity as a trader is forcing trades that aren't there.
We’ve all been there. You’re staring at the screen, waiting for something to happen. Price is floating. Your plan hasn’t triggered. And still… you convince yourself there's a setup. For me, this happens after getting some really good wins. You know those trades. The ones that feel effortless! They work out as soon as you enter. Stack up a few of those in a row and you want those plays to fall in your lap every day.
Spoiler: They don’t. And your account pays for it.
Let’s talk about how to break that habit and how I learned to stop “needing action” and start letting the market come to me.
🩹 I Used to Trade Just to Feel Something
Early on, I was addicted to pressing buttons.
I came from trading volatile political markets stuff that would move 30–40% off a headline, a leaked poll, or a viral tweet, etc. Very similar to what we are seeing in todays market. It was chaos, and I loved it. But it trained my brain to associate movement with opportunity. Noise started to feel like signal.
So when I shifted into options, especially 0DTE, I brought that same twitchy energy with me. I'd convince myself there was a setup because I wanted one, not because the chart showed one. I'd scalp a weak level, size up randomly, and bail at the first red candle.
It wasn't trading. It was fidgeting. And the results were exactly what you'd expect: inconsistent, stressful, and stupid. I always tell people: “if you treat the market like a casino, it will treat you like a casino goer.”
I wasn’t reading the market I was projecting my need to feel in control. That’s when I realized…
🎯 The Market Doesn’t Owe You a Trade
This mindset shift changed everything:
You are not paid to trade. You're paid to wait and strike when the odds are in your favor. You may need to wait a day…3 days…a week…
Most newer traders feel like they need to “do something” every day. But the reality is, sometimes the best trade is no trade at all. Cash is a position. Patience is a weapon.
Now, even with SPY offering multiple moves a day, I still sit on my hands unless the setup is clean.
🔍 What a “Clean Setup” Actually Looks Like
Here’s my baseline checklist before I touch the buy or sell button:
Price is at a key level. Not “near,” not “kind of close.” At.
Volume is building into the zone. I want to see pressure, not chop.
Order flow confirms. Is delta shifting? Are there signs of absorption or trap behavior?
I know my stop and target before I enter. No guessing. No “I’ll figure it out after.”
If even one of those is missing, I pass. Because forcing a trade at the wrong time is 10x more damaging than missing a winner. I know because I have done it….many times. I still have my moments even today. We all do!
🧠 Mental Trick: The "Reversal Test"
Here’s a quick trick I use when I feel tempted to force something:
If price moved against my bias right now, would I say “I saw that coming” or would I be surprised?
If I’m honest and the answer is “I’d be surprised” then I have no business being in that trade. That means I’m not reading the market. I’m projecting.
And projection is poison in trading.
📈 What You Can Do Instead of Forcing
Not trading doesn’t mean doing nothing. Here's how to use that “dead” time productively:
Watch how price behaves at levels even if you’re not in a trade
Take screenshots and log patterns for your journal
Practice reading order flow with no position on. Less emotion = better learning
Back test or refine your process in real time
This is the kind of work that compounds over time. Most traders don’t do it. If you do, you’re already separating yourself from the crowd.
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💬 Final Thought
I used to think more trades = more progress. But really, it was the opposite. The minute I stopped needing action and started requiring confirmation, everything leveled up.
You don’t need more trades.
You need better trades.
And that starts with patience, structure, and a refusal to force what isn’t there.
When the market gives you a green light, you’ll know. Until then — hands off. Protect your capital. Sharpen your edge.
You’re not here to gamble. You’re here to grow.
Stay sharp
— Blitz
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