Happy Friday, traders…

Fridays can feel like the last lap of a long race. 

You’re exhausted. You’ve been watching charts all week. You’re ready to close the screens and take a break. 

I get it. But that last lap is crucial. It’s where the strongest runner finds that final push of strength and wins by a nose…

I learned this many years ago, during my first few months of trading…

I’d coast into Fridays, let open trades linger, and tune out as soon as the closing bell rang.

Then I’d spend Sunday nervously checking futures on my phone, worried about what Monday would bring…

I got more stress than rest. 

I knew I needed to change my routine. So I started taking Fridays seriously. 

I’d review my week, close positions, and lay out a simple plan for Monday. 

My weekends got easier, my sleep got better, and my performance stopped taking those Monday morning hits from trades I should’ve closed (and news I should’ve known about). 

These 4 Friday Moves Can Help You Crush Monday’s Trades…

1. Tie Up Loose Ends

Start with your open trades. Go name by name, contract by contract. 

Ask yourself: “Does this position deserve the weekend hold?”

If the answer is no, close it. A trade that’s limping into Friday is usually a liability by Monday. 

Weekend headlines can lead to big Monday gaps, up or down. 

I’ve seen perfectly good gains vanish by Monday’s open because I held something I didn’t need to. 

Closing “borderline” trades on Friday helps protect your mental bandwidth for next week.

2. Review and Learn in Real Time

Don’t wait until weeks later to figure out what you did right or wrong. Review your trades NOW, while they’re fresh in your mind. 

Look at the entries and exits. Did you follow your stop? Did you cut winners too early? Did you jump into trades out of fear of missing out?

Patterns will appear. Maybe your strongest wins came from setups you watched patiently for days. Maybe your losses came from forcing a trade in the first 30 minutes. The more you see these patterns, the more you can double down on what’s working and cut out what’s draining your account. 

This is one of the fastest ways to improve as a trader (and you only need 15–20 minutes each Friday to do it).

3. Stage Your Setups for Next Week

Don’t roll into Monday asking, “What’s moving today?” 

Make a watchlist on Friday. 

Scan your charts for stocks near important support or resistance zones. Check the economic and earnings calendar for events that could act as catalysts.

Take a look at my Smart Money Radar Watchlist for ideas…

From there, pick three to five setups that make your A-list for next week. Write down your planned entry, your stop, and your target. 

If one triggers at Monday’s open, you’re already prepared. 

Those few minutes of prep can be the difference between decisive execution and chasing moves in the heat of the moment.

4. Stay Tuned In Over the Weekend

Friday prep doesn’t end when the bell rings. You need to pay attention to market news over the weekend. 

Scan the headlines. Watch for developments that could affect your setups. Peek at futures Sunday night to get a feel for the tone.

This allows you to enter Monday prepared, without the scramble of trying to catch up. 

If something shifts between Friday’s close and Monday’s open, you’ll already be aware of it.

• Close what needs closing. 
• Learn from the week while it’s still fresh. 
• Stage next week’s plays. 
• Stay up on the news. 

If you do that every Friday, Mondays will start feeling like a continuation of the plan you’ve already set in motion.

Happy trading,
Ben Sturgill

*Past performance does not indicate future results