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Trader Pre-Session Checklist · five minutes before the open
CalmHQ Studio · v1
Tick every box before you open the trading platform. If you can't tick one honestly, that's the signal — close the laptop and come back tomorrow. The market doesn't care about your day. It'll be here either way.
Sleep 4 questions
- Did I sleep at least 6 hours last night?
- Did I wake up without an alarm — or with one but feeling rested?
- Is my resting heart rate within my normal range this morning?
- Am I free of stimulants beyond my usual coffee dose?
Body 3 questions
- Have I eaten something — not just coffee?
- Have I moved my body in the last 12 hours (walk, stretch, exercise)?
- Is my breath slow and even right now? (5 slow breaths if not.)
Plan 5 questions
- Do I have a written plan for what I'll trade today?
- Do I have a defined entry trigger — not a "feel"?
- Do I have a stop loss placed before the entry, not after?
- Do I have a take-profit or partial-exit plan written down?
- Have I calculated my risk per trade in £? (Cap: ____ )
Market context 4 questions
- Have I checked the economic calendar for high-impact news in my window?
- Do I know what the overnight session did and why?
- Have I identified key levels (overnight high/low, prior day high/low)?
- Am I clear on whether today is a range day or a trend day setup?
Exit rules — pre-committed 3 questions
- Daily loss cap: ____ (when hit, platform closes, no exceptions)
- Max trades today: ____ (when hit, platform closes, no exceptions)
- Walk-away trigger: "After ____ consecutive losses I stop for the day."
"I will not trade today out of boredom, FOMO, revenge, or to make back yesterday's losses. If any of those show up I will close the platform without negotiation. The market will be here tomorrow. So will I, if I respect it today."
Signature (signing makes you mean it)