August 24, 2026 (-$86.25) | Not A Trading Day, But I Traded -_-

August 24, 2026 (4 Trades) (-$86.25)

Overall Grade: D+

Day Summary: Choppy day, breaking rules, forcing trades. Lucky to be down just $100.00 today. First trade of the day was okay I guess, although I tried using a signal bar entry today and it didn't really help the cause as I ended up entering (short) much lower than I normally would. The reason I did that was because we were showing some slight strength into the 21 EMA so I though it would be a good idea to see some confirmation of bears again before shorting but today, and this market in general recently, wasn't the day for it because it was chop. After that, I just forced some trades being a degen. Not trading my set up at all, so what can I really suspect.

DAILY - ES

5 MIN - ES

TRADES

Trade 1 - Short 1 MES @ 21 EMA Trap + Signal Bar + Short Low

Grade: B-

1. actually looking at it now, waiting for the signal bar put me in at probably the same spot I would have been in if I just took it at the 21 EMA so not a bad way to enter
2. trading in the direction of the overall trend - also good
3. playbook set up - yes
4. stopped out responsibily - good, even though of course it dropped right back down
5. not my best trade, but this also wasn't bad
6. possibly could have stopped out after the HL right after I entered, and I did think about that, but I had a plan to accept the signal bar risk and that is what I did so I am ok with this loser

Trade 2 - Short 1 MES @

Grade: C-

1. FOMO - bad
2. playbook set up - no
3. trading with overall trend - yes - better than not I suppose
4. I should have been getting in higher (21 EMA) if I wanted to try this short but FOMO burned me on that one - would have reduced my risk in this trade
5. stopped out decently quick, and at the right spot, on this trade which was necessary considering where I entered

Trade 3 - 21 EMA Trap + Subpar Set Up + Breaking Rules

Grade: C-

1. breaking rules - did not follow 2 Loss And Done Rule
2. subpar 21 EMA Trap set up but I was too short biased at this point
3. short high on a choppy day so that is good at least
4. at this point I was short with the overall trend but trading against current price action and I failed to recognize that
5. biggest problem with this trade is that I was breaking rules - rules are not optional if I want to compete with the best in this game

Trade 4 - Short 1 MES @ Breaking Rules + Impulse Trade + Being A Degen + No Set Up

Grade: D

1. breaking rules - bad
2. playbook set up - no
3. biased for the short - bad
4. overall trend direction - good I suppose, but shouldn't be trading at this point
5. this was a risky trade and I'm lucky to get out breakeven on this trade
6. NO EXCUSE FOR TAKING A 4TH TRADE AFTER 3 LOSERS !!!! - There is always tomorrow! Money doesn't need to be made right here, right now