I been day trading since 1985, wow, just realized 30 years ago, hmmm lol, I think in all that time trading S&P futures, I have used the news twice. I am more of a scalper, but only trade first 90 minutes of day session, risk depends on size on range of one minute bars so if they bigger than 1.75 points, I have risk more than 2 points I normally risk and will go to 3 points if I have to, but then targets will be what I risk, if risk is over 3 points, I either won't take trade or wait for price to retrace so risk won't be greater than 3 points.
I don't ever have thought it was easy, but now I expect to do well in every trade and when I have losses look at it as more frustrating than anything else. I do average down on every trade, so my methods have been well tested and been doing approx. same method over a twenty years.
There are many problems younger traders have, understand what doesn't work, knowing that failed price pattern signals work better than many that do, but often it is they don't know where to start or what to look for as far as knowing difference of chop and trend. Most too concerned on where to get in and never enough time in what to do after one is in, that is where the 99% of work needs to be placed. Many beginners and medium traders don't break down swing lengths, in other words what part of the complete normal trend swing(from lowest pivot low to highest pivot high of one trend), if on average, last forty trading days, normal swing during morning session is 12 points, where are they entering and how much left till reverse is expected. This way if too close to the top, might want to not do trade or have quicker target of one bar, it either takes off or get out with a tick or two.
Really need to put in the 10,000 hours of screen time to get good idea of what works well. But think first of doing long term trading first, much more money in it, as what most burns out starting out day traders is slippage and commissions, so 10 trades and that like giving up a ES point. and you can learn slowly in long term, whereas in day trading have to learn to make second decisions.