Thinking about switching to shorter timeframes for trades. Currently doing 15-30 minute options but wondering if 1-5 minute trades could work better.
You could make quick profits but lose money faster. Has anyone tried both approaches?
What timeframes actually work for consistent results?
Blew through $800 in three days doing 1-minute trades two years back. Stress was insane and clouded my judgment completely.
Switched to 15-minute options and my win rate went from 32% to around 60%. Those extra minutes help me catch fake breakouts before jumping in.
Fast money’s tempting, but fast losses sting way worse.
Short timeframes can eat into your profits with commission fees. After 8 years in trading, I find anything under 15 minutes too risky. In those 1-5 minute windows, it’s hard to read price action accurately. It often feels more like gambling. You’ll end up glued to your charts, reacting to noise rather than real trends. Those quick movements that seem like trends are often just random spikes that can reverse quickly.
Short trades work great when the market opens and gets volatile. Keeping position sizes small helps, as losses can hit fast.
Those 15-30 minute options can get crazy during choppy conditions. Timing beats everything else, not just picking the right timeframe.
Made decent money on 5-minute trades but my $300 days became $200 losses quickly.
Win rates drop below 45% on trades under 5 minutes due to market noise. Commissions significantly impact profits. A minimum of 15 minutes allows for better confirmation of technical indicators.