The most frustrating part of a sideways market is not the ups and downs themselves, but the back-and-forth rhythm of bulls and bears, watching your principal gradually erode, with patience and chips being worn down.

Many people lose their grip on the rhythm during this process, ending up trapped on both ends. To put it simply, in a sideways market, the key to turning things around is: survival. Survive first, and then making money becomes possible.

So, how exactly should you operate?

**Step 1: Don't rush to cut losses.** As long as you haven't been liquidated and your account still has room, don't let emotions dictate your decisions. As long as the loss hasn't been realized, there's still a chance to turn things around. But the prerequisite is to understand why you got trapped—was it due to a change in fundamentals, or did you just misjudge the rhythm? This judgment is crucial.

**Step 2: Set rules for yourself.** Don't rely on feelings; pre-calculate your stop-loss levels and exit decisively once reached. It's natural to feel reluctant, but stepping back isn't admitting defeat—it's leaving yourself a backup plan. Wait for the market to move favorably and find a reasonable entry point, then re-enter with a smarter approach, gradually filling the previous gaps.

**Step 3: Short-term traders must be more decisive.** The core of short-term trading is rhythm response. Once the direction is wrong, exit immediately like hitting the brakes. Close all positions, avoid entanglement, and don't fantasize—small losses should be cut quickly. This is much wiser than stubbornly holding on and waiting for a deep trap.

Remember this: as long as your principal is still there, opportunities are always present. In a sideways market, success is never about who has the bigger guts, but who remains calmer and more disciplined.