A trading journal brings the details of each trade into one place: what you planned, what happened, and what you want to review. A simple record is easier to maintain than a complicated system that you stop using after a week.

Start with a notebook, spreadsheet, or journal app you already understand. The aim is to make your decisions easier to examine. Keeping a journal does not guarantee profitable trading or remove the risk of losses.

Write down the plan first

Before recording the outcome, note the date, instrument, direction, and reason for the trade. Describe the conditions you were looking for and what would make the idea no longer valid. Include your planned entry, exit conditions, and position size.

Keep this original note intact. If you later change the plan, add a separate update with the time and reason. That makes it possible to distinguish what you knew at the start from what became clear afterward.

Capture the actual numbers

After the trade, record the actual entry and exit prices, execution times, and quantity. If there were several entries or partial exits, list each one rather than forcing everything into a single unexplained number.

Add commissions and any other charges shown in the account statement. Keep gross results and costs separate, then record the net result using the same currency throughout. When a number is missing, mark it as unknown and reconcile it with the statement later instead of guessing.

Add a few honest observations

Numbers tell only part of the story. A short note can preserve the context: whether you followed the plan, what distracted you, and how you felt when entering or closing the trade.

Use specific descriptions. “I changed the exit after seeing a sudden price move” is more useful for review than “I traded badly.” Record observations without rewriting the story to make a winning trade look inevitable or a losing trade look foolish.

Keep practice and live records distinct

Clearly label every entry as demo, paper, or live trading. You can use the same template for each, but keep their results separate. Record any known differences in how the practice platform handles orders or costs.

If you save screenshots, label them with the trade date and a reference number. Remove account numbers, balances, and other personal information before sharing them. Store the journal somewhere private and keep a backup.

Make review a small routine

Choose a regular review time and read a group of entries together. Look for missing fields, repeated changes to plans, or situations that deserve a closer look. Separate the financial outcome from the question of whether the recorded process was followed.

Finish each review with one clear observation and one recordkeeping improvement, such as adding an order reference or logging fees consistently. Avoid drawing sweeping conclusions from a handful of trades.

A simple entry template

Date and time · Demo or live · Instrument and direction · Reason and original plan · Planned size · Actual entries and exits · Fees and net result · Changes to the plan · Emotions and context · Review note.

Keep the format short enough to complete consistently. A useful journal is one you can read, check against your records, and return to over time.