A trading journal records what you planned, what you did, and what happened. Without it, memory edits results and repeats mistakes.
Minimum viable entry
For each trade log:
- Date and symbol
- Setup type (breakout, pullback, etc.)
- Entry, stop, target
- Risk in currency and percent of equity
- Outcome and whether you followed the plan
Screenshots are optional, notes are not
A chart image helps, but one sentence on why you entered matters more six months later.
Tag mistakes separately
Create tags like early entry, moved stop, oversize, ignored calendar. Review tag frequency monthly. The most common tag is your real edge leak.
Sim journal on NordTraders
The platform sim path lets you practice entries and closes without broker capital at risk. Treat sim fills as real enough to journal. Skipping records because it is paper teaches bad habits.
Weekly review questions
- Which setup type had the best expectancy?
- Did I violate risk rules?
- What one rule would have saved the worst loss?
Improvement comes from honest answers, not from more indicators.