Build your Strategy- Building a Traders Journal

If there’s one habit that separates disciplined traders from the rest, is keeping an journal. Yet, despite its simplicity, most traders either ignore it altogether or use it in a way that adds no real value. A proper trader’s journal is more than a notebook full of numbers it’s a personal blueprint for progress.

Why a Journal?

Trading is part strategy, part psychology. A journal allows you to track both. It shows you what’s working, what’s not, and most importantly why. Patterns begin to emerge, not just in the market, but in your decision-making. And those insights can be worth far more than any single trade.

What to Include

A good journal isn’t about volume; it’s about relevance. Here’s a simple structure that works:

• Date and Time: Helps identify market conditions (was it London open, or New York close?).

• Instrument Traded: Be specific EUR/USD, NASDAQ, Bitcoin, etc.

• Trade Setup: What was your reasoning? Was it a breakout, trend continuation, reversal?

• Entry and Exit Points: Include price levels and screenshots if possible.

• Position Size and Risk: How much did you risk? What was your target?

• Result (P/L): Record the outcome but don’t obsess over it.

• Emotions/Thoughts: Were you anxious? Confident? Second-guessing? This is where you find the real gold.

Best Format: Digital or Manual?

Both have benefits. Manual journaling (pen and paper) creates stronger memory recall. Digital tools (like Excel, Notion, or apps like Edgework or Trader Vue) offer sorting, filtering, and analytics. The best choice is the one you’ll use consistently.

Review Weekly

A journal isn’t just for writing it’s for reviewing. Once a week, go back through your trades. Look for recurring mistakes, overtrading, hesitation, or ignored setups. Ask yourself, “What can I improve next week?”

Final Word

Trading isn’t just about charts it’s about self-awareness. A well-kept journal turns every trade into a lesson, and over time, those lessons stack up. Think of it as your own personal trading coach, one entry at a time.