A trading journal is a record of your decisions. It does not need fancy language or pages of writing. Start with enough detail to understand what happened when you look back.
Keep five things.
- The trade: the date, instrument, entry, exit, and size. Keep the details accurate.
- The plan: why you considered the trade and what you intended to do.
- The action: what you actually did, including any changes.
- The result: the gain or loss, including costs where available.
- The lesson: one thing you want to notice or practice.
Add a feeling without making it the whole story.
A short note such as “I felt rushed” can help you remember the moment. Then connect it to an action: “I felt rushed, so I skipped my checklist.” That connection is something you can look for again.
Use screenshots with a purpose.
If you save a chart, mark where you made a decision and add a sentence explaining why. A folder full of unmarked screenshots can be hard to learn from later.
Review your notes together.
Once a week, read several entries. Look for repeated behaviors: changing your plan, entering without a reason, or following your checklist consistently. Don’t treat a small handful of trades as proof of an edge.
A journal cannot guarantee better returns. Its value is that it gives you a clearer record than memory alone. Start small, be honest, and make the notes useful to your future self.
Educational content, not personal investment advice. Trading can lead to substantial losses. Read FINRA’s day-trading risk information.