Keeping a Trading Journal

A trading journal records each trade: entry, exit, reason, outcome, and lessons. Review regularly to spot patterns, improve discipline, and refine your system. Consistency in journaling leads to better outcomes.

Record: pair, entry price and time, exit price and time, position size, reason for the trade (what setup triggered it), outcome (P&L, R-multiple), and lessons learned. Screenshots of charts help. Note your emotional state if it affected the trade.

Review weekly or monthly. Look for patterns: which setups work best? Which times or pairs lose money? Are you following your rules? Do you overtrade after losses? Use the journal to spot weaknesses and adjust your plan.

Common patterns: overtrading after a loss, taking trades outside your plan, moving stops, chasing. If you see these in your journal, address them in your plan. The journal is your feedback loop—it tells you what you actually do, not what you think you do.