Who this is for — Anyone who wants to arrive at the session already oriented, avoiding improvised decisions in the most emotional minutes of the day.
The pre-market routine is a sequence of technical and mental preparation before opening positions. It defines what to watch, what to ignore, and when to stay flat.
In plain terms — If you prepare the plan beforehand, in the market you only execute; if you do not, you end up chasing.
Bronze prerequisite — Before this lesson: trading-journal, discipline, plan-adherence, trade-lesson. See bronze-path.
Recommended operating structure
An effective routine can take 20–40 minutes:
- check macro calendar and high-volatility windows;
- identify main levels and scenarios;
- classify regime with market-conditions;
- select active setups from the playbook;
- complete opening checklist and daily risk limits.
The value is in repeatability, not complexity.
Example — Before the US session: macro agenda shows CPI at 14:30. Predefined decision: no new entries in the 10 minutes before and after the release.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Turning preparation into endless analysis.
- Starting without an alternative scenario.
- Ignoring no-trade signals already visible.
- Not updating the routine after periodic reviews.
Card
- What it is: preparation protocol before the operating session opens.
- When to use it: every day before the target session.
- Typical mistake: skipping it after a positive day because "I know the market anyway".
Silver path — Module: Review. Part of silver-path.