Keeping a trading journal you can learn from
Record the decision, execution and outcome so your review has evidence to work with.
Capture the decision before the result
Write down the instrument, date, timezone, market context and reason for considering a trade. Record planned position size, entry, exit and the conditions that would invalidate the idea.
Notes made only after a result can be influenced by hindsight. Preserve the original plan and add a separate review rather than editing the plan to fit what happened.
Record execution and costs
Include actual entry and exit prices, size, fees, financing and any difference from expected fills. Save relevant chart screenshots and note platform or connection problems.
Keep the record consistent with account statements. Distinguish realised results from open-position estimates, and deposits or withdrawals from trading performance.
Add context that numbers cannot show
A short note about attention, fatigue, stress or an unplanned decision can help explain why a rule was not followed. Record missed trades or deliberate decisions not to trade as well as completed trades.
These observations are for examining your own process. A profitable outcome does not necessarily mean the decision was sound, and a loss does not by itself mean the plan was broken.
Choose a format you will maintain
A spreadsheet, notebook or dedicated application can work. Consider exportability, privacy, cost and whether the tool stores sensitive account information. Do not share trading passwords to make a journal easier to fill in.
Use clear tags for strategy, instrument and session, and define them consistently. Automated imports still need checks for missing trades, duplicated records and timezone differences.
Review patterns without overstating them
Compare results after costs, average gains and losses, drawdowns and adherence to the plan. Small samples and changing market conditions can produce patterns that will not persist.
Turn an observation into a testable question. Record any change, why it was made and how you will evaluate it. Keeping a journal improves the record available for review; it does not guarantee profitable trading.
Further reading
This guide explains concepts and ways to organise your research. It is not a recommendation to trade, a personal allocation plan or a promise of returns. Read the Terms of Business and your account conditions.