Why I Stopped Trading Midday (And My Results Got Better)
If you’re anything like I was when I first started trading, you probably think more screen time equals more profit. I used to believe that the more I traded throughout the day, the better my results would be. But I was wrong. Midday trading almost always drained my focus, my energy, and worst of all—my profits.
Let me break down why I stopped trading midday and how that simple decision made my results not just better—but consistent.
Table of Contents
The Trap of Overtrading
In my early trading days, I’d sit at my desk from market open to close, glued to the screen. I thought that watching every single candle would give me an edge. But by midday, I was mentally exhausted. I noticed I was taking setups I wouldn’t normally touch during the morning. My discipline dropped. My trades became reactive instead of strategic.
Midday trading sessions often have low volume, choppy price action, and fakeouts that look tempting but rarely play out clean. I was getting chopped up, and it was killing my consistency.
Midday Is When the Market Rests — So I Do Too
After watching the market religiously for months, I started noticing a pattern. The best moves usually happen during the first hour and the last hour of the trading day. From 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM, the market often goes into a lull. That’s when institutional traders are out for lunch, and retail traders are left trying to force trades.
So I made a decision: No more midday trades.
Instead, I shifted my strategy. I focus before 10:30 AM, I review my watchlist, and once the volatility fades, I walk away. This change gave me space to recharge, backtest, and even work on my blog and trading journal.
My Results? Way More Predictable
Once I stopped trading during the middle of the day, my win rate went up, and my account drawdowns shrank. I was no longer chasing or getting pulled into low-probability setups. I had fewer trades, but better ones. My emotions calmed down, my strategy sharpened, and I stopped feeling burnt out every week.
If you’re currently trading all day and wondering why your results are inconsistent, consider doing less, not more. Your edge might not be in adding more trades—but in cutting out the noise.
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I break everything down in my ebook, including how I pick the best setups, how I build my watchlist, and why I only need a few winning trades to cover my monthly expenses.
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Final Thoughts
Sometimes doing less is the smartest move you can make. If you’re serious about improving your trading and protecting your mental capital, give yourself permission to step away during low-volume hours. Your account—and your sanity—will thank you.
I’m not a guru, I’m just someone who figured out what works for me. Hopefully, this post helps you start figuring out what works for you.
Another thing I noticed was how much emotional discipline I lost after midday. Even when I told myself I wouldn’t take another trade, I’d find myself reacting to random candles or news that popped up. It wasn’t about strategy anymore — it was boredom disguised as opportunity. That’s dangerous for any trader.
When you sit through midday trading chop, you’re exposing yourself to what I call “false conviction.” You might feel like you see something forming, but it’s often just sideways noise. And by the time you act, you’re already in a poor setup with no clear edge.
Taking a break during the middle of the day gave me more than just better trades — it gave me mental clarity. I stopped feeling like I had to “catch up” or constantly be in a trade to be productive. The truth is, the best traders I know trade less, not more.
A lot of new traders underestimate how much energy and focus trading requires. It’s not just clicking buttons — it’s analyzing risk, making fast decisions, and keeping your emotions in check. By midday, your brain is already running at 50% even if you don’t realize it.
Some people say, “But what if I miss a big move at 1PM?” My answer? Let it go. There will always be another setup. But jumping into a random midday spike usually ends up being a trap. I’d rather protect my capital and wait for clean setups than gamble during dead hours.
This shift also helped me build a better daily routine. Now, after the morning session, I review what worked and what didn’t. I journal, I do backtesting, and I work on building other income streams. I feel more in control of my time — and that’s huge.
When I looked at my trading stats, it was obvious. My midday trades had the lowest win rate and the highest emotional toll. The data doesn’t lie. If you’re not tracking your trades yet, start today — you’ll probably find similar results.
Another benefit is that my mornings feel more purpose-driven now. Knowing I only have a window from 9:30 to 10:30AM to make my moves keeps me sharp. I don’t scroll, I don’t chase — I execute. That’s made me a more disciplined trader overall.
Also, since cutting out midday trading, I’ve stopped feeling guilty about taking breaks. Trading should serve your life — not the other way around. And if you’re glued to your screen all day, ask yourself: is that the freedom you were looking for when you started this?
I want to be clear: I’m not saying midday trades never work. I’m saying they’re lower probability, and for someone like me who values consistency, that just doesn’t make sense anymore. Know your edge — and protect it.
If you’ve been stuck in the all-day grind and feel burnt out or stuck, take this as a sign. Step back. Focus on the quality of your trades, not the quantity. You might be surprised how fast your mindset — and results — shift.
Lastly, if you’re curious how I simplified my entire strategy to make just a few trades a week that cover my bills, you can check out my ebook here:
👉 Pay Your Bills with Stocks.
That’s where I go deeper into the setups, mindset, and system that helped me finally trade with peace and clarity.