Free Trading School · Level 6: Mindset, Plan and Next Steps
Keeping a trading journal
A journal is a record of every trade: the setup, entry, stop, target, size, result and how you felt. Over time it shows which setups actually make money, which mistakes you repeat and whether you follow your plan.
- Record the trade before you enter it, not just the result.
- Track results in R (multiples of your risk) so trades of different sizes are comparable.
- Add a screenshot of the chart at entry and at exit.
- Every week, look for patterns: best setup, worst time of day, rules broken.
What gets measured gets improved. The journal is your personal coach.
Quick answers
A journal is a record of every trade: the setup, entry, stop, target, size, result and how you felt. Over time it shows which setups actually make money, which mistakes you repeat and whether you follow your plan.
What gets measured gets improved. The journal is your personal coach.
It makes trades of different sizes comparable. R expresses every result as a multiple of the risk taken.
Next lesson: Your next steps