Lesson 7 of 8 · 2 min
Journaling
What to record, how to review it, and how a journal turns trades into lessons.
A journal is the only way to find out what's actually working. Without one, you remember the wins, forget the losses, and repeat the same mistakes.
What to record for every trade
| Field | Example |
|---|---|
| Date & time | 2026-10-05, 10:12 ET |
| Instrument & size | MES, 2 contracts |
| Setup / reason | Rejection of prior day VAH |
| Entry, stop, target | 5012.25 / 5008.25 / 5020.25 |
| Result | +1.8R |
| Plan followed? | Yes / No — and what broke |
| Emotion | Calm / rushed / revenge / FOMO |
| Screenshot | Before and after |
The most important column
"Plan followed? Yes / No." Your results only teach you something if you know whether they came from the plan or from improvising.
Weekly review
Once a week, answer:
- How many trades followed the plan? What was the result of those vs the rest?
- Which setup made the most R? Which lost the most?
- What time of day did you trade best — and worst?
- One thing to stop doing next week. One thing to keep doing.
Monthly review
Look at your numbers in R: win rate, average win, average loss, EV per trade, and max drawdown. Change one thing at a time, then measure it for a few weeks.
Tools
A spreadsheet is enough. Dedicated journaling apps add screenshots and stats, but the habit matters more than the tool.
Quick recap
- Record every trade — especially the bad ones.
- Track whether you followed your plan.
- Review weekly, change one thing at a time.
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