For sure, and a good point.
I just find it pretty counterintuitive, really, to start with a larger position size and then make it smaller as the trade moves into profit. It would come more naturally and comfortably to me to be adding to the position when it moves into profit, not subtracting from it.
Probably it all depends what kind of trades you’re doing? (Mine are basically trend-following. Micro-trends, but still trends.)
Figuring out the perfect “time to buy” and “time to sell” is incredibly difficult. If it were easy, everyone would be rich overnight!
My simplest advice for intraday: Don’t just react to every tiny price swing. Instead, focus on defining your entry and exit criteria before you even place a trade. For example, “I will buy if the price breaks above X and sell if it drops below Y.” This helps you stick to a plan rather than making emotional decisions in the heat of the moment.
The normal way to do this is just to have an “overall bias” of direction.
All this really means is having fixed rules defining the parameters under which you’ll be looking only for long entries, and those under which you’ll look only for shorts.
Many people do that by looking at the overall trend of one or two higher timeframes, but that’s just example and it isn’t necessary to do it that way. You could do it using indicators (preferably slow-moving, trend-indicating ones with long settings, probably) instead. As long as you have a way of doing it that works for you, and has an edge (meaning that your overall results are both profitable and proven to be better with it than without it).
It takes a lot of testing to be sure about it, of course.
But that’s true of almost everything trading-plan-related, isn’t it? So no surprise there. 
I totally get it, losing your first investment can be really tough and make you wanna give up. But it’s cool that you found this platform. It might help you learn the ropes better. Everyone has a rough start, so don’t let one loss kill your vibe. Just keep going, you’ll get there.
It’s totally okay to feel that way. Just don’t give up on yourself yet. Trading takes time to get the hang of and finding a place that helps you learn is a good step. Keep at it and things will start making more sense.
sorry to hear about your loss. I’d say stick to a demo account for now practice your buys and sells there to get the hang of it. Once you’re nailing it consistently, then risk real money.
Exactly - The market is proving you right so add to winning trades.
Cutting winners is **fear **that your winnings will be taken away.
Old old cliche ’ Let your winners run - cut losses quickly’
It’s one of the very few old, old clichés I’ve found helpful and really believe in. Especially the “cut losses quickly” part.
(The other one that’s been good to me is to “buy the dips in an uptrend and sell the rallies in a downtrend”.)
To differentiate the right time to buy from the time to sell. Well, start from focusing on both market conditions know what is your investment goals.
Buying is ideal when prices are low, valuations are attractive, or there’s strong future growth potential often during market corrections or when sentiment is negative. Selling makes sense when prices are high, an asset is overvalued, your profit targets are met, or risks increase.
Also, you can use tools like technical analysis (charts, trends) and fundamental analysis (earnings, news, macro data) to support your decision, and most important always align actions with your risk tolerance and strategy.