Here in the Northern Hemisphere, summer really settles in between Memorial Day and July 4th. And if you’ve been out and about, you may have noticed something around your neighborhood…
The season of renovation projects. Even though fall might be more ideal, the peak months for home renovation are May through July. It makes sense: the weather’s better, schedules are more flexible, and people are ready for a fresh start.
But here’s something we often forget when planning a renovation…
You can’t use a space fully while it’s being renovated.
A Kitchen, Stripped to the Studs
I remember when my parents renovated our kitchen. And it was strange. The kitchen was stripped down to the studs. No warm aroma of spices and South Indian curries. No clanging pots or sizzling onions.
It was especially tough on my mom, who cooked for us nearly every day. My dad kept telling her to look at it like a vacation from the stove! She gave him a small smile, but I know it was a hard adjustment.
So what did we do?
We ate simpler those few weeks. Sandwiches. Tacos. And we went out to eat a bit more — enjoying the summer weather while our kitchen got a total upgrade.
Trading Plan Renovations Work the Same Way
Just like a kitchen, your trading plan will need renovations.
And while you're in that phase of renovating — not just planning to renovate, but actually making changes — you can’t keep using it like business as usual.
Trying to trade with a half-finished plan is like trying to cook Thanksgiving dinner in a torn-up kitchen. Stressful. Sloppy. And likely to go sideways.
What to Do During a Trading Plan Renovation
When I help students revise their plans, we use something I call the “Point 5”Method. It’s a structured way to track updates between version 1 and version 2 of your trading plan — without losing your place or jumping back into trading too soon.
This matters because:
- If your plan isn’t ready, your trades won’t be reliable.
- If you rush, you’ll end up making decisions based on incomplete logic.
- If you pause, you can come back stronger.
How Long Should You Pause?
It depends on your trading style.
I’ve helped position traders who only place a few trades a year, all the way across to scalpers trading a 1-minute chart.
But if you’re somewhere in the middle — say, a swing trader holding trades for a few days — you’ll want to pause completely on entering new trades while you renovate. Don’t go looking for new setups until you’ve finished the updates and reviewed them with a clear head.
The good news?
Renovating a trading plan takes way less time than renovating a kitchen!
Renovation Is Part of the Business
Just like quiet market days or waiting for confirmation in a setup, pausing to revise your plan is part of being a serious trader.
Think of any brick-and-mortar business you’ve walked into lately. At some point, they probably renovated. Maybe they even closed their doors for a little while.
They risked losing short-term business to make long-term gains.
You can do the same.
When your trading plan needs a serious upgrade, give yourself the space to do it right.
Drop a comment👇
Have you ever paused trading to renovate your plan?
Was it hard to step away? Did you come back stronger? I’d love to hear how you’ve handled this — or what you’re considering right now.
P.S. Curious about the Point 5 Method?
This is something I teach inside the First 40 Trading Club, and doors are almost open to our entire Trading Tribe — at the founding member rate.
Keep a close eye on your inbox this holiday weekend for the best deal I’ve ever offered. You won’t want to miss it!
~Hima
Leave a Reply