A simple, repeatable workflow for fast paced trading

This checklist is built to slow your mind down while the market speeds up.
It protects beginners from impulsive decisions and gives you a clear rhythm to follow.

1. BEFORE THE TRADE (Preparation & Filters)

You only scalp when the environment is safe.

Market Conditions

• ☐ Trend is clear (up or down — not sideways)
• ☐ Volume is strong
• ☐ Spreads are tight
• ☐ No major news in the next 10 minutes
• ☐ Price is not stuck inside a messy range

Your Chart Setup

• ☐ 1 minute chart for entries
• ☐ 5 minute chart for trend direction
• ☐ Key levels marked:
  • ☐ Yesterday’s high/low
  • ☐ Overnight high/low
  • ☐ VWAP
  • ☐ Support/resistance

Your Personal Limits

• ☐ Max loss per trade set
• ☐ Max loss per session set
• ☐ Max number of trades set
• ☐ You feel calm, focused, and not rushed

If any of these are missing → Do not trade.

2. WHEN A SETUP APPEARS (Confirmation & Entry)

You wait for your setup — you never chase.

Trend + Pullback

• ☐ Trend direction confirmed on 5 minute
• ☐ Pullback into:
  • ☐ VWAP
  • ☐ 9 EMA / 20 EMA
  • ☐ Micro support/resistance

Momentum Check

• ☐ Stochastic oversold (for longs) or overbought (for shorts)
• ☐ Stochastic turning in your direction
• ☐ No conflicting signals on higher timeframe

Entry Trigger

• ☐ First candle breaks the pullback structure
• ☐ Spread still acceptable
• ☐ Volume increasing

If the setup is not clean → Skip it.

3. DURING THE TRADE (Execution & Discipline)

This is where beginners lose control — the checklist keeps you grounded.

Risk Control

• ☐ Stop loss placed immediately
• ☐ Stop is tight and logical (beyond pullback high/low)
• ☐ Position size is small enough to stay calm

Trade Management

• ☐ Hands off the mouse — no widening stops
• ☐ Move stop to break even only when structure supports it
• ☐ Take partial profits if the move is strong

Emotional Check

• ☐ Breathing steady
• ☐ Shoulders relaxed
• ☐ No urge to “make it back” or “make it bigger”

If emotions spike → Exit early.

4. EXITING THE TRADE (Profit & Protection)

Scalping is about small, consistent wins — not squeezing every pip.

Exit Signals

• ☐ Price hits your target
• ☐ Momentum stalls
• ☐ Opposite colour candle forms
• ☐ Stochastic crosses against you
• ☐ Volume drops

Never Do

• ☐ Never widen your stop
• ☐ Never hold hoping for more
• ☐ Never turn a scalp into a swing trade

5. AFTER THE TRADE (Reset & Review)

Your mind must return to neutral before the next trade.

Reset

• ☐ Deep breath
• ☐ Shoulders down
• ☐ Quick note: “What did I see? What did I feel?”

Review

• ☐ Did I follow my rules?
• ☐ Was the setup clean?
• ☐ Was my exit disciplined?

If you broke a rule → Stop trading for 10 minutes.

6. SESSION ENDING RULES (Your long term survival)

Scalping is dangerous when you stay too long.

You stop trading when:

• ☐ You hit your daily profit target
• ☐ You hit your daily loss limit
• ☐ You feel tired, frustrated, or euphoric
• ☐ Market becomes choppy
• ☐ You’ve taken 3 consecutive losses
• ☐ You’ve taken 3 consecutive wins (euphoria is a threat)

Stopping is a skill.
It protects your account and your emotional capital.

My real goal is to help people to develop an income from investing that will make their employment optional. I have developed a library of books on Personal Finance that are largely jargon free and help establish a foundation of how money really works. No matter how constrained your income is you can make decisions that result in growing your wealth over time.

You can find my library at addingtowealth.com/?page_id=18 more details are on the Book Index page and don’t forget to check out the growing list of blog posts.

But if you insist that Day Trading is your desire then you can download a FREE copy of Day Trading – Beginner to Winner at https://addingtowealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Day-Trading.pdf