Why It Works
Your memory is unreliable — it remembers wins and hides losses. A journal forces objectivity and reveals patterns.
What to Log
- Date, market, timeframe
- Setup name and rationale
- Entry, stop, target, actual exit
- R risked, R gained/lost
- Emotion before, during, after
- Screenshot of chart at entry and exit
Weekly / Monthly Review
- Group by setup: which A+ setups have positive expectancy?
- Group by market/time: are you profitable in London but losing in Asia?
- Group by emotion: what mood do you lose money in?
Tools
Any structured system works — a spreadsheet, a journaling app, Notion. Consistency matters more than the tool.
Key Takeaways
- If it isn't written down, it doesn't exist.
- Journals turn feelings into data.
- Iteration is only possible with a journal.