Why and how to keep a trading journal

Why it works

Memory flatters us. A written record shows what you actually did and why, which makes patterns visible: trades taken out of boredom, rungs added too early, sizes that were too large.

What to record

• Date, pair, direction and the signal you followed.
• Entry prices and lots for every rung, and the close price.
• Net result in pips and in money, and the deepest floating loss you saw.
• How you felt, and whether you followed the plan.
• One lesson to carry into the next basket.

Share and learn

Share your closed trades with other members in the Community. Hide account numbers and personal details before you post a screenshot, and remember that no member's results predict yours.