What are the most common trading mistakes beginners make?

I started trading without a plan, chasing hot feels and big wins. I overtraded, overleverage, and then watched drawdowns pile up. The mistake wasn’t the idea but the process: no defined setup, no risk cap, no journal. Once I wrote rules, tracked every trade, and stuck to fixed risk per position, things finally stopped bleeding.

Two things saved me: a simple plan and patient execution. I used to chase trends, size up, and pay huge fees. Here's what actually helps: 1) define a strategy before trade: timeframe, instrument, entry rules, exit rules, risk per trade (e.g., 0.5-1%). 2) keep a strict max daily loss and a drawdown limit. 3) use stop losses and position sizing; never risk more than X% of account on a single trade; adjust for volatility. 4) trade only when there is a valid setup, don't trade noise. 5) journal every trade; write why entered, why exited, and whether you followed plan; review weekly to find pattern of mistakes. 6) avoid revenge trading; take rest after losses. 7) account for fees and slippage in expectations; backtest and simulate before real money. 8) gradually scale up; start with small size until you prove the plan works across market regimes. 9) maintain routine: pre-market check, review of rules, and emotional readiness. My early days failed because I ignored these, but once I built discipline, the consistency appeared.