The Perils of FOMO in a Sideways Market

Been trading long enough to know better, but the last few weeks have been a stark reminder of how easily FOMO can derail a disciplined approach, especially when the market isn't giving clear signals. I found myself chasing small moves in $SPX, trying to scalp profits where there simply wasn't enough conviction for follow-through. Each quick scalp felt like I was missing out on the 'real' move that never materialized, leading to overtrading and increased commissions eating into what little gains I managed to scrape together.

The biggest mistake was shifting my usual position sizing and holding periods, trying to adapt to what I thought the market should be doing, rather than what it was doing. Ended up taking a few unnecessary losses on trades I wouldn't typically enter, just because the screens were flashing green for a few minutes. It's a classic trap – trying to force action in a low-conviction environment. Stepping back for a few days to reset and re-evaluate my watchlist. Sometimes, the best trade is no trade at all.