When I started this journey, my trading was anything but disciplined.
I used to chase every opportunity — driven by FOMO, overconfidence, and the need to be in the market at all times. If SPY was rallying, I felt compelled to jump into a put credit spread. If IWM started moving, I’d try to stack on more trades to “capture theta” — sometimes across multiple tickers. My goal, whether I realized it or not, was to utilize 100% of my buying power every single day.
And when the market turned against me?
It was a margin nightmare. My buying power went negative, and I was forced to exit positions at a loss — not because of logic or risk rules, but because I had no choice.
🎯 What Changed?
The 1000 Days Challenge changed everything.
By documenting every single trade, reflecting daily, and reviewing performance weekly — I’ve started to think like a portfolio manager, not just a trader.
I now:
- ✅ Trade fewer setups — typically only 2–3 well-planned trades per week.
- ✅ Stick to my allocation plan — e.g., 40% on Monday/Tuesday 2/7 DTE trades, 10% for Friday 0DTE explorations.
- ✅ Resist the urge to “revenge trade” or overtrade after a loss or missed opportunity.
- ✅ Stay calm during both profits and losses — because I know it’s about the law of large numbers, not the outcome of one trade.
🔬 From FOMO to Focused Backtesting
What’s been most surprising is how this discipline has given me back time — and I’ve started using that time to run strategy backtests and explore historical edge.
Instead of chasing trades mid-week, I ask:
- “How has this strategy performed in September over the last 3 years?”
- “What’s the max drawdown I could face if this trade goes wrong?”
- “How would this work if I scale to 100 contracts in 2 years?”
That’s a very different mindset than “SPY is up — let’s sell a put spread.”
🧘 Calm > Chaotic
The biggest gain from this challenge hasn’t just been monetary — it’s psychological.
I feel more in control of my process. I don’t chase. I don’t panic. I’m building a framework I can trust and refine, instead of guessing every day.
And even when I take losses — like I did this week — I know they’re part of the system I committed to. I’m not reacting to the market. I’m responding based on a tested plan.
📌 Final Thought
The 1000 Days Challenge isn’t just a trading journal. It’s accountability. It’s structure. It’s my blueprint for becoming the kind of trader I always wanted to be: disciplined, data-driven, and calm under pressure.
Here’s to the next 950 days.
⚠️ Disclaimer
The information presented in this blog post is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as financial or investment advice. I am not a licensed financial advisor. All trading strategies discussed reflect my personal experience and are not recommendations to buy or sell any security or derivative.
Trading financial instruments such as options, futures, or stocks involves significant risk and may not be suitable for all investors. You should conduct your own research, consider your financial situation, and consult with a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decisions.
Past performance is not indicative of future results. Use of this information is at your own risk.