Record the trade facts first
Start with objective information: date and time, market, direction, entry, exit, position size, realized profit or loss, and fees. These fields let you compare trades without relying on memory.
Keep deposits and withdrawals outside trade results. Cash movements change the account balance, but they do not show whether a trading decision worked.
- Market, direction, and trade date
- Entry, exit, and position size
- Realized P&L after fees
- Exchange or account used
Capture the plan and risk
Write down the setup, entry reason, invalidation point, planned stop, and intended target before the outcome influences your explanation. A short checklist makes it easier to see whether you traded a defined plan or reacted in the moment.
Record planned risk separately from the final loss. Slippage, moving a stop, adding to a position, or exiting early can create a gap between the plan and the result.
- Setup name and market condition
- Entry trigger and invalidation
- Planned risk and reward
- Rule followed or broken
Add context you can review later
Attach a chart screenshot from before or near the entry and another after the exit. Add a brief note about focus, emotion, and any execution mistake that affected the trade.
Finish with one lesson written as an observable action. “Wait for the candle to close” is easier to test next time than “be more patient.” Consistent labels also help group similar setups and mistakes over a larger sample.
- Before-and-after screenshots
- Emotion and focus level
- Execution grade independent of P&L
- One specific lesson or next action