Good morning, traders…
What day of the week do you make your worst trading decisions?
I’ve been tracking my own psychology for years now, and the answer surprised me.
Not Monday when I’m getting caught up from the weekend. Not Friday when events get crazy before the close…
Thursday.
It’s the day I’ve talked myself out of more winners than any other. I’ve exited positions on Thursday that would’ve printed massively just 24 hours later.
But it’s also the day when time decay starts rapidly increasing for Friday expirations, putting a ticking time bomb on any decision.
And I’m starting to think it’s not just me having “The Thursday Problem…”
What I’ve noticed: Thursday is when retail traders get the most emotional about their positions. It’s when time decay feels heaviest, when doubt creeps in hardest, and when most people fold their winning hands.
Smart Money knows this. Institutions and market makers have been studying market psychology longer than we’ve been trading.
Thursday afternoon might be when you’re accidentally funding someone else’s yacht.
Let Me Explain “The Thursday Problem” (And How To Flip This Hurdle In Your Favor)…
Why Thursday Feels Different (And Why That Matters)
Monday or Tuesday, you enter a trade. You’re confident. The setup looks clean. You size appropriately.
Wednesday rolls around. Maybe there’s some movement, maybe not. You’re still optimistic.
Then Thursday hits.
Suddenly, that time premium you paid feels like it’s melting faster. The position that seemed “safe” on Tuesday now feels risky.
Your brain starts whispering doubts…
“What if this doesn’t work?” “Should I get out before it goes red?” “Maybe I was wrong about this catalyst…”
Sound familiar?
Your original analysis didn’t change. The setup remains the same. But Thursday has a way of making everything feel more urgent, even if your position isn’t expiring the next day.
The Pattern I Keep Seeing
I’ve watched this play out hundreds of times in my own trading and in our community.
Thursday afternoon: Someone posts about cutting a position since “it’s not moving fast enough.”
Friday morning: The same person watches that option rip 500% without them.
The worst part? The catalyst they were waiting for actually happened. The setup worked.
They just couldn’t handle the psychological pressure of holding through Thursday.
What I Wish Someone Had Told Me Years Ago
Most options trades need more time to develop than you think.
Your brain tricks you into believing time runs out faster than it actually does.
Especially on Thursdays, when you’ve been in the position for a few days and haven’t seen the move yet.
But what I’ve learned: Thursday often comes right before the payoff.
It’s like folding a poker hand one card before hitting your straight flush.
Sure, you might leave the table with some money…
But you’ll never know what could’ve happened…
How I Handle Thursdays Now
Instead of fighting Thursday psychology, I’ve learned to use it.
When I feel that familiar Thursday doubt creeping in, I ask myself one question:
“Am I thinking about exiting since my setup broke down, or just Thursday messing with my head?”
If the setup remains intact (same catalyst coming, same technical levels holding, same reasoning that got me in) then I stay in the position.
If something fundamental changed about the trade, that’s different. I’ll exit.
But I refuse to let Thursday’s emotions make my trading decisions anymore.
“If the setup hasn’t done anything wrong, gotta stay long.”
The Thursday Opportunity
Something else I’ve noticed: Thursday afternoons often present the best buying opportunities.
While everyone else panic sells, I’m looking for beaten-down options on solid setups.
I’ll often find contracts trading at significant discounts compared to earlier in the week.
Same setup. Same catalyst approaching. However, sellers often offer discounts because they struggle to cope with the psychological pressure.
Next Thursday, when that voice in your head starts doubting your setup … step back and take a breath.
Check your original reasoning. Does the setup remain valid? Did your stop loss get hit? Did something fundamentally change?
If the answer is no, then you’re experiencing what every options trader feels on Thursday.
Close your platform. Go grab coffee. Trust your analysis.
Some of the best trades look hopeless right before they work.
Don’t let Thursday jitters cost you your next big winner.
And speaking of big winners…
Tim Bohen is about to reveal the same secret that helped him target single-day peak gains of:
199% with MBIO…*
252% with CYN…*
352% with MCVT…*
414% with SBET…*
And many, many more…*
And according to Tim’s research, the potential this secret offers could EXPLODE after Labor Day weekend…
That’s why TODAY, August 28th, at 8 p.m. EST … Tim is hosting an urgent LIVE trade briefing, so you can uncover all the details behind this opportunity for yourself.
But you only have a few hours left to sign up…
Happy trading,
Ben Sturgill
*Past performance does not indicate future results