A trading plan converts intentions into checkable rules. This GridHarbor Bots guide outlines a one-page plan: entry criteria, size, exits, and the review loop.
Why this topic matters
Plans fail when vague ("buy dips, take profits") or grand (spreadsheets abandoned after week two). A workable plan fits one page: which assets, what triggers, what size per position, where exits sit — including the exit for being wrong — and when the plan itself is reviewed.
How to do it well
Write it while calm, execute it while busy, review it monthly. The plan’s first job is not performance; it is consistency — making the hundredth decision the same shape as the first. Adjustments happen at reviews, never mid-trade.
Practical checklist
- One page: assets, triggers, size, exits
- Include the exit for being wrong, not just for winning
- Adjust only at scheduled reviews
- Score every live trade against the written rules
Common mistakes
The plan also ends arguments with yourself. If a trade does not fit the written criteria, the answer is no — and the energy saved by not debating exceptions is the plan’s real return.
What it looks like in practice
A minimal plan fills five lines: "I trade BTC and ETH only. Entries require a written trigger. Maximum two percent of capital per position. Losing positions exit at the stop or the review, whichever comes first. The plan is revisited on the first of each month." Short enough to remember; specific enough to score.
Keep reading on GridHarbor Bots
- limits of backtest evidence why past performance is not a blueprint for grid bot
- bots versus manual swing outcomes honestly
FAQ
What if the plan stops working?
Markets change; revise at scheduled reviews with evidence. Changing rules mid-position to rescue a trade is not revision — it is improvisation.
Do long-term holders need a plan?
Yes — a simpler one: what you hold, why, what would change your mind, and when you review that answer.
Educational content only — not financial, legal or tax advice. Facts verified October 2026.