Imagine your trading journal as a treasure map—it reveals where you struck gold, where you hit landmines, and how to navigate to profit island. In this guide, you’ll learn how to build a journal that transforms your trades into actionable lessons. Spoiler: This is the secret weapon every pro wishes they’d started sooner!

Why a Trading Journal is Your #1 Tool

A trading journal isn’t just a diary—it’s your personal trading coach. It helps you spot patterns, kill bad habits, and refine strategies. No journal? You’re flying blind. With one? You’re building a roadmap to success.

What to Track in Your Trading Journal

1. Trade Details

What to Log:

• Entry/exit prices, date/time, currency pair.
• Position size, risk-reward ratio.
• Charts (screenshots or links).

2. Strategy & Setup

What to Log:

• Why you took the trade (e.g., “RSI < 30 + bullish engulfing”).
• Was it part of your plan?

3. Emotions & Psychology

What to Log:

• How you felt before/during/after the trade.
• Did fear, greed, or FOMO play a role?

4. Outcomes & Lessons

What to Log:

• Profit/loss (P/L).
• What worked? What failed?
• "Next time, I'll..."

How to Analyze Your Journal Like a Pro

1. Weekly Reviews: Spot recurring mistakes (e.g., overtrading Mondays).
2. Monthly Reports: Track progress toward goals (e.g., win rate improvement).
3. Adjust & Test: Tweak strategies based on data, not hunches.

Common Journaling Mistakes to Avoid

• Skipping Entries: One missed trade = lost data.
• Vague Notes: “Felt bad” → “Felt anxious after news release; exited early.”
• Ignoring Wins: Analyze successful trades too!

Tools to Supercharge Your Journal

• Notion/Trello: Organize trades visually.
• TradingView: Save charts with annotations.
• Deriv’s Reports: Export trade history for easy logging.

Interactive Section: Journal Mastery Quiz!

Think you've got the journaling chops? Let's test your know-how!

What’s Next?