A Morning Routine for Traders: Getting Back on Track

Tyler Stokes

If you’re trying to become a day trader while juggling a job, family, or other commitments, productivity is crucial. But let’s be real—most of us don’t start the day with a structured plan.

In this article, I’ll share a powerful morning routine that transformed my productivity and helped me build a successful business. And now, I’m bringing it back into my trading journey.

We’ll break down the Miracle Morning method, why it works, and how you can adapt it to fit your lifestyle as a trader.

The Reality of Learning to Trade with Limited Time

It’s February, and Season 3 is finally here—but I’ll be honest, my year didn’t start as productively as I had planned. And I know I’m not the only one.

I want to talk about how to deal with getting knocked off track, whether it’s due to life, work, or family commitments, and how to get back into your trading journey.

  • Why January Wasn’t Productive for Me
    • Life happens—family, work, sickness, distractions
    • The common trap: Losing momentum and never getting back on track
    • Importance of accepting that you won’t have 12 perfect months in a year
  • Many Traders Face This Challenge
    • Not everyone can trade full-time from the start
    • Most beginners have other responsibilities (jobs, families, school, businesses)
    • Success in trading requires a long-term mindset

One year into studying for any major career would generally place someone at the beginning of their educational journey, far from being considered a professional in their field, but with a foundational understanding of the subject matter. It’s a marathon, not a sprint, with each year building upon the last towards professional competency.

  • The Problem: Thinking Every Trader is Productive 24/7
    • Social media and YouTube make it seem like top traders are locked in every day
    • The truth: Many content creators batch record videos, schedule content, and deal with setbacks just like you
    • Key takeaway: You don’t have to be perfect every day—you just have to keep going

The Importance of Productivity & Discipline in Trading

  • Trading is Two Things:
    1. Technical Knowledge – Learning charts, strategies, risk management
    2. Commitment & Execution – Actually putting in the time and taking action
  • What Separates Those Who Succeed from Those Who Quit?
    • The ability to stay committed despite setbacks
    • The trap of quitting too soon: Many people take a break and never come back
    • Success is about consistency, not intensity – Consistent effort wins over sporadic bursts of activity (IMO)
  • What Helped Me Stay Committed in My Past Business?
    • A simple but powerful method: The Miracle Morning

I’m going to talk about some of the things from The Miracle Morning but I would recommend you just get the book yourself. There’s a lot of good info and techniques in the book that I’m not going to cover here.

Why Your Morning Routine Matters in Trading

  • Most Mornings Are Chaotic
    • Right now, my mornings are a mess—waking up multiple times a night with my 5-month-old
    • The typical routine: Wake up late, rush to get kids ready, grab coffee, start the day in reactive mode
    • This isn’t ideal for traders who need focus, discipline, and a clear mind
  • A Powerful Morning Routine Can Change Everything
    • The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod was a game-changer for me in my past business
    • Helped me wake up at 5 AM, work before my daily commitments, and get ahead
    • This system is structured, easy to follow, and proven to work for many successful people
  • I’m Bringing It Back to Improve My Trading
    • As my schedule stabilizes, I plan to reintroduce this routine to maximize productivity in my trading
    • The goal: Become more disciplined, structured, and consistent in my approach

The SAVERS Framework – 6 Steps to an Effective Morning Routine

The Miracle Morning method is built around SAVERS, a six-step process that sets you up for a productive day. Order the book here.

1. S – Silence (Meditation & Mindfulness)

  • Most mornings start in a rush—this flips the script
  • Instead of chaos, start with purposeful silence
  • Options:
    • Meditation (simple breathing exercises)
    • Prayer
    • Gratitude reflection
    • Just sitting with your coffee in peace
  • How I Used It Before:
    • 5 minutes of deep breathing and meditation
    • Helped me clear my mind and enter the day with focus and calm
  • How This Helps Trading:
    • Reduces stress and emotional trading
    • Helps develop patience and discipline

2. A – Affirmations (Programming Your Mind for Success)

  • Affirmations may sound weird, but many successful traders and entrepreneurs swear by them
  • Helps you reinforce your goals and mindset daily
  • In the book, there are five steps to writing effective affirmations:
    1. What you want
    2. Why it matters to you
    3. How you will achieve it
    4. Your commitment level
    5. Incorporating inspirational quotes
  • My Personal Affirmations for Trading (Shared below)
    • I will read them aloud each morning with focus and belief
    • This has worked for me in the past, and I encourage you to try it
    • They can change overtime
  • How This Helps Trading:
    • Keeps you committed to your trading goals
    • Helps eliminate self-doubt and fear

The Exact Affirmations That Helped Me Build a Successful Online Business

Concentrate! MEMORIZE THIS.

JUST MAKE IT HAPPEN: GO AND learn this stuff!!

I am just as worthy, deserving, and capable of achieving extraordinary levels of success and all of my goals as any other person on earth, and that the only thing that separates me from those at the top is my level of commitment. So, from this moment on, I am 100% committed to becoming the person I need to be through daily personal development and living with daily discipline, to easily attract, create and sustain the levels of success that I truly want, and deserve in my life. I will become a trader with a portfolio value of over 10 million dollars!

I know that to do this, I must be willing to stay committed to my goals and doing whats’ “right”, as opposed to what’s “easy”, at a level that I have never been committed before. 

I will no longer settle for less than the levels of success and fulfillment that I am truly capable of, and deserve. In fact I have a responsibility to live my life to the fullest and achieve my goals in order to set an example for those around me. To create the life I want, I can’t wait for someday, or some year. NOW is my time. 

Success is my right, duty and obligation. I owe it to myself and my family to commit 100%.

I will 10X my portfolio through consistently trading a strategy with extreme discipline.

I will work every single minute of my time in studying my trading strategy. I will put in 10 times the efforts I think is required to get there. 

I will master my trading strategy and trade with extreme discipline and patience. I will not trade with any emotion. I will never chase price. I will stick to my allocation percentages. I will only buy at support. I will do whatever it takes to become an expert in this strategy and have a longterm outlook.

“Visualize myself in my office sitting at my large desk with multiple monitors analyzing charts and making successful trades. “

I am so happy and grateful now that I am trading successfully and did a 10X on my investment portfolio. I have 3 real estate properties, 1 in Guelph, 1 in Muskoka, and 1 in Naples Florida. I drive a Tesla CyberTruck. I have the best wardrobe I’ve ever seen, and my wife raises our kids and cooks homemade meals every day.

TAKE ACTION NOW!

GRIND IT OUT!

AM I LIVING THE LIFE AS SOMEONE WHO TRADES SUCCESSFULLY AND HAS A PORTFOLIO WORTH MULTIPLE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS?

What would that look like?


3. V – Visualization (Seeing Success Before It Happens)

  • Used by elite athletes, CEOs, and top traders
  • Spend a few minutes picturing yourself succeeding

Picture and visualize yourself with a fancy suit in my office with large mahogany desk with multiple monitors trading stocks.

  • Imagine:
    • You, sitting at your trading desk, executing high-quality trades
    • Hitting your profit targets and managing risk effectively
    • Seeing yourself as a consistent, confident trader
  • How I Used It Before:
    • I visualized my business thriving, and it became reality
    • Now, I’m using it to see myself mastering day trading
  • How This Helps Trading:
    • Builds confidence and reinforces positive habits
    • Helps you stay motivated through challenges


Visualize the process of your task being enjoyable, free from stress and fear. (Visualize yourself actually trading, analyzing the charts, reviewing trades, making money from the markets) and see yourself smiling and determined and focused.

  • Visualize yourself living in alignment with the affirmations
  • Visualize what you REALLY want
  • Visualize yourself accomplishing what you set out to accomplish, and FEEL how good it feels to accomplish your tasks and achieve your goals (be specific and have a lot of detail)
  • Visualize who you need to be, and what you need to do

4. E – Exercise (Boosting Your Energy & Focus)

  • Exercise isn’t just for fitness—it’s for mental clarity and focus
  • Many top traders incorporate fitness into their routines
  • Even 10-15 minutes of movement can make a huge difference
  • How I Used It Before:
    • I worked out early in the morning, which supercharged my focus for the rest of the day
    • I’ll be sharing my exact exercise routine in our Skool group
  • How This Helps Trading:
    • Increases energy, mental endurance, and stress management
    • Helps avoid trading fatigue

5. R – Reading (Expanding Your Knowledge Daily)

  • Successful people are lifelong learners
  • Morning reading time = small daily gains that add up over time
  • What to read?
    • Trading books (e.g., Market Wizards, Trading in the Zone)
    • Market news & headlines
    • Economics & financial reports
  • How This Helps Trading:
    • Expands knowledge without overwhelming you
    • Keeps you informed about market conditions

6. S – Scribing (Journaling & Self-Reflection)

  • Journaling helps traders track progress and improve discipline
  • Write about:
    • Your trading plan for the day
    • What’s working, what’s not
    • Emotional state before/after trades
  • How I Used It Before:
    • Journaling kept me accountable in my past business
    • It’s essential for tracking trading mistakes & refining strategies
  • How This Helps Trading:
    • Forces you to review your trades critically
    • Helps avoid emotional and impulsive decisions

How to Implement This Routine in Your Life

  • You don’t have to do all six steps perfectly
  • Adjust the routine to fit your schedule—even a 20-minute version works
  • Best way to start: Pick 2-3 elements and build from there
  • My Plan for 2025:
    • As soon as my schedule allows, I’ll be waking up at 5 AM and following this routine
    • This will help me be more structured and productive in my trading journey
  • Final Thoughts:

The Self-Help Trap – Don’t Just Read, Take Action

  • A Word of Caution on Productivity & Self-Help Books
    • You don’t need 100 books on productivity—you just need to take action
    • Many people get stuck in a loop of reading but never applying what they learn
    • The key is finding a system that works for you and actually doing the work
  • Final Thoughts
    • If you’re new to trading, you will have setbacks—expect them
    • The goal is to bounce back quickly and not let small breaks turn into quitting
    • Discipline and productivity are just as important as strategy and technical skills

Closing Thoughts & What’s Next for Season 3

  • What I’m Focused on This Year
    • Getting back into consistent trading
    • Documenting my journey with real money trading
    • Sharing everything transparently in our Skool group
  • Join the CommunityClick Here
    • Nearly 1,000 members sharing their strategies and experiences
    • Find a trading style that fits your life
    • Learn from others and stay accountable

About the author

Hi I'm Tyler Stokes. I started my day trading journey in 2024. As a pure beginner I decided to document everything on this website. I plan to share all the ups and downs of becoming a day trader on this website and through social media.