Daily Pre-Market Template (Sticky)

[NYC88]

Copy this into your journal before you touch size. If a field is blank at 09:20 ET, you're improvising. Improvisation at the open is how I used to donate.

I don't fill this because I'm virtuous. I fill it because blank fields correlate with stupid size in my own stats.

Code: Select all

DATE (ET):
SLEEP / HEALTH (1–5):
MAX DAILY LOSS $:
MAX TRADES TODAY:
SIZE CAP (shares / $ risk per trade):

MACRO / INDEX
SPY bias (L/H/R):
QQQ bias (L/H/R):
VIX / vol note:
Levels that matter (prior day H/L, ON high/low):

UNIVERSE
A-setup candidates (max 5):
B-setup candidates:
Do-not-trade list (earnings binary / halt risk / trash spread):

CATALYSTS
Confirmed today:
Rumors / ignore:

EXECUTION
Venue / account:
Hotkeys verified (Y/N):
VPS / network check (Y/N):

OPEN PLAN
First 15 min: observe / trade? (default observe if unsure)
Invalidation for the day (what makes me flat & done):

### How I use it on the board

Sticky this. New folks: paste a filled template in your intro week. Don't post account balances. If you skip the template and blow the DD breaker, that's data — write it down instead of rewriting history.

What field do you skip most often — and does it bite you?
Sleep score: do you actually cut size when it's a 2, or just note it?
Anyone default first-15 to observe unless a named open-drive play is written?
What's on your permanent do-not-trade list this month?

[Fairman]

This sticky is the right length. I don't fill a premarket template because I'm virtuous — I fill it because blank fields correlate with stupid size in my own stats.

Fields that must not be blank by 09:20 ET on my desk: max daily loss ($ or R); size cap; SPY and QQQ bias (one word each); A-setup candidates (max 5); do-not-trade list (earnings binary, halt risk, trash spread); confirmed catalysts versus rumor/ignore; hotkeys verified; VPS/network check; first-15 plan (observe versus trade).

If a field is blank at 09:20, you're improvising. Improvisation at the US open is how spreads and FOMO collect rent. The template isn't bureaucracy — it's a filter that keeps B-ideas from becoming marketable chases at 09:32.

Diagram: the six blocks I refuse to leave empty.