In the years I entered the crypto space, I basically associated it with the term "leek"—staying up late monitoring the charts, chasing gains and selling losses, experiencing margin calls and insomnia, anxiety—almost every beginner has gone through this. It wasn't until later that I realized the problem wasn't the market, but my trading approach was entirely gambling.

The real turning point happened when I decided to treat trading coins as a serious job. Since then, I have followed a strict schedule, executing according to a predetermined plan—going to work when it's time to work, logging off when it's time to rest. These changes finally prevented my account from experiencing drastic dips again. All these lessons were learned through losses, and beginners should take note:

**Find Your Own Golden Trading Hours**

During the day, market news is everywhere—unexpected events, policy rumors, and candlestick fluctuations are chaotic and unpredictable. I now mostly start trading after 9 PM, when most news has been digested, candlestick patterns are much cleaner, and the direction looks clearer. Entering the market at this time helps maintain a calmer mindset.

**Take Profits Immediately, Don’t Be Greedy**

What’s the worst case I’ve seen? Making $1,000 and then trying to triple it, only to see the market retrace and wipe out the gains. My approach is to take 30% to 50% of profits immediately once I have gains. For example, if my account has a floating profit of $1,000, I will withdraw $300 to my bank account first, and continue trading with the remaining amount. This reduces psychological pressure and helps avoid falling into greed traps.

**Indicators Don’t Lie, Feelings Do**

Entering based on "feelings" is the fastest way to get wiped out. My method is to use TradingView, and before placing an order, I check three indicators: whether MACD has formed a golden or death cross, whether RSI is in overbought or oversold zones, and whether Bollinger Bands are narrowing or breaking out. I only consider opening a position when at least two of these indicators give a consistent signal. This filtering greatly improves success rates.

**Adjust Stop-Loss Strategies Dynamically**

If you have time to monitor the market, you should adjust your stop-loss upward as the price rises. For example, if you entered at 1000 and it rises to 1100, I will move my stop-loss from the original position to around 1050. This locks in some profits while continuing to follow the trend. But if you don’t have time to watch every day, you must set a hard stop-loss—my standard is about 3%. This way, even if there’s a sudden crash, your account won’t be wiped out all at once.

**Account Numbers Are Not Real Money**

Many people make the mistake of thinking that their account balance increasing means they’ve made real profit. In reality, profits are only realized when they are transferred to your bank card. My habit is to withdraw profits periodically in batches, taking 30% to 50% of each gain. This way, you can enjoy the sense of real gains without being constantly obsessed with your account numbers or dreaming of a tenfold increase overnight.

**Reading Candlestick Charts Is Very Important**

For short-term trading, I mainly look at the 1-hour chart. Two consecutive bullish candles can signal a good opportunity to go long. If the market is sideways or consolidating, I switch to the 4-hour chart to find key support levels. When the price approaches these support levels, I consider entering. Using multiple timeframes makes predictions much more accurate than relying on just one.

**Pits to Avoid**

Over-leveraging and heavy position sizing are the biggest taboos. Once you make a wrong judgment, your account can be wiped out in an instant. Second, avoid obscure altcoins you don’t understand—they have a much higher chance of being scams than making money. Also, don’t trade more than three times a day; frequent trading can easily lead to emotional loss of control and worse decisions. Lastly, never borrow money to trade crypto—this approach amplifies risks to a level that can ruin your life.

Crypto trading is never about impulsiveness or luck-based quick riches. It’s about long-term persistence and executing a proven trading strategy. Treat it seriously—as a job—logging in on time, following your plan, shutting down when it’s time to rest, and taking breaks when needed. This might not be as exciting, but steady account growth will bring more peace of mind.