One's mental attitude has a large influence on day traders. One needs consistency in one's mind since the market is largely a random walk and you're in the fight and need to be alert and ready to act reasonably. When your trade signals happen, and they sometimes happen very quick, you need to execute rapidly.
One needs to be willing to endure till the best setup develops and then put one's order in. One needs to hold tight till the exact interval and then act with certainty.
This game requires one to limit their mistakes and minimize their losses. One needs to keep to their rules. One needs to verify through back testing that the rules work.
In order to avoid capital loss, always set stop orders on a position. don't take the trade if the risk is too big. It's imperative you use a trade simulator to test your system and learn the mechanics and gain experience.
One must be awake and not emotionally stressed. A clear headed mind in order to make decisions and act on them without emotion is vital. Inevitabley, losing trades occur and a steady emotional makeup will allow one to bounce back faster. One needs to develop the assurance to trade without emotion.
Keeping a log or diary with details of the how and why is a must. This is a way to hold yourself accountable. Make note of how you perceived the situation and what was on your mind. In retrospect, you'll have a log you can refer to and self-diagnose. You'll get a birds-eye view of how the method is working.
One needs a clear system and objective to base their trading on and to trade with. Trade with a set of rules that you can count on! Keep a list of your day trade plans on index flash cards so you can review the method is if necessary before you make a trade. Back testing your method is vitally important. One needs to back test and have confidence oneself that the strategy is on target. Finding good day trader software may be helpful.
A fixed stick-to-it disciple must apply to your money management rules. Keep your risk at a 2% level per trade. Capital preservation is the number one rule and one doesn't need risky temptations. Even if you lose 50% of your trades, you can still make money with the right money management rules.
One can live well-off day trading. The people who make it in this business are the ones who are well balanced emotionally, have a good plan and have a good money management system in place. Even a day trading stock tip may prove workable with the right theory.