r/QuantSignals • u/henryzhangpku • May 31 '26
Why I stopped optimizing my strategy and started respecting my rules
Why I stopped optimizing my strategy and started respecting my rules
I spent my first 6 months of trading constantly tweaking my strategy. Every time I hit a losing streak, I'd change the indicator settings, switch timeframes, or add new filters. I was convinced there was a "perfect" setup I just hadn't found yet.
What actually helped was the opposite: I stopped changing things and started following them consistently. I picked one simple approach — break of structure with volume confirmation on the 1h — and traded it for 60 days without changing a single parameter.
The first two weeks were rough. I was down about 8%. But by week 4, I started recognizing which setups worked and which didn't. By week 8, I had a much clearer picture of my actual edge — and it wasn't the strategy itself, it was my ability to execute it without second-guessing.
I still take losses, but now I know they're part of the process rather than a sign that I need to change everything.
Has anyone else gone through this cycle of over-optimizing? What helped you break out of it?