One of the biggest mistakes I see traders make has nothing to do with indicators, chart patterns, or market forecasts.
It's the belief that being a serious trader means watching charts all day long.
I've seen traders check the same chart every 15 minutes. Then again after lunch. Then again before the close. Then again from their phone while they're supposed to be spending time with family or focused on something completely different.
Over time, that habit can become exhausting.
Most of the time, the chart looks exactly the same as it did 30 minutes earlier.
Watching Isn't the Same as Monitoring
A chart doesn't become more likely to move just because you're looking at it.
Sometimes traders find a setup they're interested in and then spend days staring at it, waiting for something to happen. Meanwhile, the market is doing exactly what markets often do. Nothing.
It's just chopping around, consolidating, or working through a range. At that point, repeatedly checking the chart may not provide any additional value. You're simply spending mental energy waiting.
A Better Approach
During a recent Ticker Request Live session, I was looking at CVS (March 24 2026). The stock had been moving inside a large range for quite some time, and the important levels were already visible.
The September low was important. The October high was important. Price had been respecting those boundaries for months.
In a situation like that, I don't need to stare at the chart every day wondering if today is the day it breaks out. I can simply place a price level alert. Unlike a trade alert service that tells you what to buy or sell, a price level alert is simply a notification that tells you when a chart reaches a level you've already identified as important.
If price action hits an important level, my charting platform (TradeStation) lets me know. Until then, I can focus on something else.
Let the Market Call You
Many traders do the opposite. They call out to the market every few minutes.
It’s like a kid in the backseat of a minivan on a summer road trip asking…
Are we there yet?
I’m not a parent, but I’m the eldest of 4 kids, so I’ve heard that many, many times.
A well-placed alert changes all that. Instead of constantly checking the market, you allow the market to notify you when something meaningful happens.
That's a much more efficient use of your attention.
Alerts Can Reduce Emotional Trading
There is another benefit that often gets overlooked.
The more you stare at a chart, the more opportunities you create to talk yourself into doing something. A small move starts looking important. A random candle starts feeling significant.
A trade that wasn't part of your plan suddenly becomes tempting.
When you step away and rely on alerts, you create a little distance between yourself and the noise. That distance often leads to better decisions.
Where Can You Use Alerts?
Almost anywhere.
Some common places include:
- Major support levels
- Major resistance levels
- Previous highs
- Previous lows
- Breakout levels
- Forecast targets
- Important moving averages
- The upper or lower boundary of a trading range
The exact level matters less than the purpose.
You're identifying a price where your attention may be needed. Once that level is defined, the alert can do the waiting for you.
Trading Should Fit Into Your Life
Most traders are not sitting at a trading desk from market open to market close.
They have jobs, families, businesses, appointments, and responsibilities competing for their attention every day. That's one reason I've always believed trading needs to fit into your life rather than forcing your life to revolve around trading.
Alerts can help make that possible. You don't have to choose between monitoring opportunities and living your life.
You can do both.
One Simple Change
The next time you find yourself checking the same chart over and over again, pause for a moment.
Ask yourself what you're actually waiting for.
If the answer is a specific price level, breakout point, support zone, or resistance area, consider setting an alert instead.
Then close the chart.
Go do something else.
The market will still be there. And if something important happens, it can let you know.
🚨 PS — Watch the Replay: Last Night’s Weekly Trading Show
We had our 21st broadcast of Ticker Request Live yesterday!
📺Catch the June 2nd replay on Youtube (will come down without notice):
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