The recent market movements seem to be a game of attrition between the market and you.

Prices fluctuate unpredictably; when you chase the highs, they pull back, and after taking a loss, they surge straight up again. This back-and-forth swinging easily causes both your account and your mindset to collapse simultaneously.

Many people think that the main players are rushing to build positions or dump orders, but that's not the case. Their true strategy boils down to two words: time consumption. They use continuous oscillations to wear down your patience, and just when your mentality is about to break and your operations become distorted, they suddenly push a trend. By then, most people have already exited.

Honestly, the more you try to "quickly recover" in such a market, the more likely you are to be deceived. I’ve summarized three trading disciplines that are especially helpful in maintaining the rhythm:

**First, don’t bet all your chips at once.** Build positions gradually within your preferred price range. The benefit is that when prices rise, you enjoy gains with your existing holdings; when prices fall, you have cash to add more. Conversely, those who are fully loaded and heavily committed are most prone to collapse because every fluctuation directly impacts their psychology.

**Second, set wider stop-losses and be firm on take-profit.** Many set their stop-losses too tight, resulting in being swept out after normal market fluctuations. Proper stop-loss placement should be at technical breakdown points, not triggered by minor movements. The purpose of a stop-loss is to protect your principal, not to execute frequent liquidations.

**Finally, plan key levels in advance and don’t move recklessly without them.** Trading plans should be prepared outside of the market; don’t change your mind just because you see a big bullish candle during trading. The market’s trend is always there, but your capital is limited. It’s better to see who can stay calm than who reacts fastest.

The most common failure in volatile markets isn’t misreading the direction but losing to "impatience." Especially in choppy markets, doing less is often the best approach.

If you’ve been feeling lately that the market is pulling you by the nose, consider stopping—turn off the charts, take a few hours to rest, and reassess the overall trend on a higher timeframe. Capital is the most precious asset; enduring the oscillations is the only way to wait for a true one-sided trend.