Happy Friday, traders…
Fridays can feel like the last lap of a long race. You’re tired. 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 matters … a lot. It’s where runners either push through strong or let their pace drop.
The same goes for trading. I learned this the hard way back when I first started…
I’d coast into Friday, let open trades linger without much thought, and then spend my weekend checking charts on my phone, worried about what Monday would bring.
SPOILER ALERT: I got more stress than rest.
Then I realized I needed to change my routine. I started treating Friday as a reset button. I’d review my week, close positions that didn’t need to carry over, and lay out a simple plan for the next one.
My weekends got easier, and my performance stopped taking those Monday morning hits from trades I should’ve closed.
Today’s a perfect example of why that matters. The July Producer Price Index came in scorching yesterday — up 0.9% month-over-month, the fastest pace since mid-2022 (way over the expected 0.2%).
Markets sold hard as traders recalculated the odds of a September rate cut. The Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq all turned red fast, giving back early gains. This surprise changed the calculus for trading next week.
Want To Start Monday Ready Instead Of Rattled?! Here Are 4 Ways To Get Started On Friday…
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.
Over the weekend, news events and sentiment shifts can swing the market hard. Time decay will eat into your premium.
I’ve seen perfectly good gains vanish by Monday’s open because I held something I didn’t need to. Closing unnecessary trades on Friday helps protect your mental bandwidth for next week.
2. Review and Learn in Real Time
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
The best traders don’t roll into Monday asking, “What’s moving today?” They already have a short list of names and levels to watch.
On Friday, scan your charts for stocks or ETFs near important support or resistance zones. Check the economic and earnings calendar for events that could act as catalysts.
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.
HINT: Take a look at my Smart Money Radar Watchlist for ideas…
You don’t have to take every trade, but if one triggers, you’re already prepared. That prep is what separates decisive execution from chasing price 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. Not an all-day grind, just short, focused check-ins.
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. You’ll know if your plan still works or needs a tweak.
The last trade of the week isn’t on your screen. It’s the decision to give yourself a clean start.
Close what needs closing. Learn from the week while it’s still fresh. Stage next week’s plays. Keep your awareness sharp.
If you do that every Friday, Mondays will stop feeling like a question mark and start feeling like a continuation of the plan you’ve already set in motion.
Happy trading,
Ben Sturgill
P.S. Want to learn how to execute trades like this?*
The best place to start is in our Smart Money Workshops.
Stop missing the best setups in the options market.
Join us TODAY at 10:00 a.m. EST.
The opportunity is yours. You just have to take it.
*Past performance does not indicate future results
