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5. Walk away when the market isn't giving clean setups

This is the one that feels like a skill gap - because the temptation to force a trade doesn't come from wanting to break rules.

It comes from sitting at the charts for 2 hours, seeing nothing, and feeling like you're wasting your time.

But sitting there and NOT trading is one of the most active decisions you can make.

The alternative - taking a trade that doesn't fully meet your criteria just because you need something to happen - costs far more than a flat day with no trades taken.

I've had sessions where nothing set up for 3 hours and then a perfect trade appeared in the last 30 minutes and paid for everything.

I've also had sessions where nothing set up and I forced something in hour two and it cost me the account.

Not because the market was unfair.

Because I couldn't tolerate inactivity.

Inactivity tolerance is a skill.

If the market isn't giving you what you're looking for - there is no opportunity.

The opportunity is protecting the account for the day when setups are perfect and you execute cleanly.

Walk away.