Three years ago, I curled up in a rented apartment, staring at the remaining 3,800 yuan in my account—my entire belongings after the fifth liquidation. At that time, I was truly desperate, feeling like I was just giving money to the exchange. But now, with three simple actions, I’ve settled in Hangzhou, my account has grown from four digits to seven digits, and most importantly, I’ve achieved consistent profitability.

Let me share the three most practical changes I made.

**Action 1: Cut down your position sizes aggressively**

My previous trading approach involved at least 30% of my capital per trade. One wrong judgment and I was wiped out. Now, my strict rule is: never risk more than 5% on a single trade. Sounds conservative? Let the data speak. Last month, I used 1% position sizes to place 10 consecutive stop-loss orders, and my account only experienced a 10% drawdown. Small positions gave me the most valuable thing—capital for trial and error.

Last week, watching BTC break through an important resistance level, someone went all-in and made 20%. I only made 6% with a 3% position. But what’s the difference? They might lose sleep, while I sleep peacefully. This mental difference, over the long term, influences my entire trading decision-making.

**Action 2: Buckle up at the moment of placing an order**

Now, my habit is: as soon as I open a position, I set the stop-loss immediately, leaving no room for hesitation. Just like getting into a car—you must buckle your seatbelt, no negotiations.

My stop-loss standards are very strict:
- Intraday trades? Exit immediately if loss reaches 3%
- Overnight positions? Exit unconditionally if loss reaches 5%

Once, a 3% stop-loss saved me. I was stopped out, and the price subsequently plunged 15%. That trade, the stop-loss prevented me from losing an additional 50,000 yuan. Many think stop-loss is a technical skill, but it’s not—it’s a discipline issue. You have to be ruthless.

**Action 3: Lock in your market watching time**

This might be the most crucial point. I set a schedule for myself:
- Finish trading before 10 a.m.
- Review and make decisions at 3 p.m.
- Stay away from the market for the rest of the time

After sticking to this schedule for a week, I realized a truth: in my previous 20 trades, at least 15 were garbage trades. Now, my daily trades have dropped from 20 to 3, but my win rate has soared from 35% to 58%. Fewer trades, but earning more.

**For those still struggling with losses**

If you’ve experienced the pain of liquidation, I suggest trying this starting next week:

- Keep each position within 5%
- Place a stop-loss order immediately when opening a trade
- Only check the market at fixed times each day

My current routine is: trade in the morning, read in the afternoon, and spend evenings with my family. In my study, there are two things hanging side by side—one is a history liquidation slip, and the other is a paper listing my three trading rules.

Profitability never comes from having the most complex analysis; it’s becau