When you're down a trade, the instinct to immediately jump back in and recover losses can be overwhelming. But that's exactly when you need to pump the brakes.

Revenge trading—taking impulsive positions to "win back" what you lost—is one of the fastest ways to turn a small loss into a massive one. Here's why: you're not thinking clearly anymore. Fear and frustration are in the driver's seat, not logic. Your position sizing goes out the window. Your stop-loss discipline vanishes.

Instead, when you take an L, step away. Grab coffee. Reset your mindset. The market isn't going anywhere. There will be better setups tomorrow, next week, whenever. The traders who survive long-term are the ones who know when to sit on their hands. Patience isn't boring—it's profitable.