Why keep a trading journal
In short: A trading journal records each trade with the reason for entry, stop, target, result and an honest mark: was the plan followed. Without it you cannot tell what works — memory keeps the wins and erases the mistakes.
What to record
Instrument and time, a screenshot of the markup before entry, the reason for the trade, the risk, the result and your emotions. A separate column for whether the plan was broken.
What it gives you
After 30–50 entries you see which hours you make mistakes in, which setups lose money and what breaking the rules cost. It is the most honest teacher.
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Trading on financial markets carries a risk of losing money. This material is educational and is not investment advice.
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