Why Every Trader Needs a Solid Intraday Plan
An effective intraday trading plan is the foundation of consistent day trading success. It’s not just about choosing the right stock or timing your entry—it’s about following a routine that starts after the market closes and continues before it opens. Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned trader, your edge lies in three key steps: journaling your trades, planning your risk, and managing your screen layout efficiently.
Step 1: Post-Market Journaling — Track the Day Before You Plan
The best time to start your intraday analysis is after the market closes. This is where growth begins. Your focus isn’t on tomorrow yet — it’s on reviewing what happened today.
What to Include in Your Trading Journal:
- All trades you took (win or loss)
- Why you took them – was it part of your strategy or an emotional decision?
- Mistake or setup? – every loss must be labeled clearly
- Missed trades – those you didn’t take but saw forming
- Market-moving news/events – how did they affect the price action?
- No forward planning yet – just observe, don’t predict
🧠 Pro Tip: Writing down why you lost a trade helps separate emotional mistakes from valid strategy outcomes. Over time, this sharpens your edge.
Step 2: Pre-Market Planning — Structure Before the Market Opens
Before each trading day starts, you need a clear game plan. Here’s how to break it down.
💰 Define Risk Per Day:
- Set a daily risk limit – 1% to 2% of your account is ideal
- Divide this by 3 → max 3 trades per day
- If you hit 3 stop-losses, you’re done trading for the day
📈 Planning Based on the Previous Day:
- What setups worked yesterday?
- Are you bullish or bearish today based on price action?
- What sectors or stocks showed strength or weakness?
➡️ Your setup should be clear according to the overall market or previous day’s analysis. If the setup doesn’t appear, don’t chase the market.
📊 Use Weekly Profits to Grow Your Account:
- If you made profits last week, risk 50% of last week’s profit
- This helps grow your account while protecting your capital
- If you’re in a loss, stay conservative
🔒 Discipline tip: This rule-based planning keeps you from overtrading and protects you from emotional decision-making.
Step 3: Screen Management — Watch More Without Missing Out
If you’re serious about intraday trading, screen management is key. Use a multi-window setup to monitor various stocks and timeframes simultaneously.
🧩 What to Include on Your Screens:
- One screen for 5-minute chart
- One for 15-minute or 1-hour chart
- One for daily timeframe
- One for market news or sentiment tracker
- Multiple charts for different stocks or indices on your watchlist
Recommended Platforms:
- TradingView
- ThinkorSwim
- MetaTrader
- TradingLite or Bookmap (for order flow traders)
🎯 Edge tip: Multi-screen setups help you react faster to breakout levels, retests, or trend changes.
Final Thoughts: Plan, Execute, Review
An intraday trading plan isn’t built overnight. It’s a habit. By combining post-market journaling, pre-market risk planning, and smart screen management, you can build consistency into your routine. The markets are unpredictable — but your discipline doesn’t have to be.
🔗 Internal Links Suggestion:
Have Questions? DM Me on Instagram
If you have any questions about this intraday trading plan or need help setting up your trading routine, feel free to message me on Instagram.