The pre-trade checklist that stops bad trades

The moment before entry is when discipline breaks. You see the move, adrenaline rises, and rules get "adjusted." A checklist is a mechanical gate that the impulse has to pass through first.

What belongs on it

Keep it to 5–8 yes/no items specific to your strategy, for example:

• Price is at a planned level (not chased)
• Session/time window is valid
• Risk is ≤ 1% of the account
• Stop and target are set before entry
• I'm calm, not revenge-trading

Why it works

A checklist externalises your judgment so it doesn't depend on your emotional state. If any box is unchecked, there's no trade: the decision is made in advance, in calm. Over time the good habits become automatic.

TradeDiscipline builds your checklist from your own strategy and makes you confirm it before each session, so the gate is always there when you need it most.