A trading journal that changes how you trade
Log every trade with the setup, the planned stop and target, the actual fill and exit, and which rule (if any) you broke. Once a week review four numbers: expectancy, average loss versus your planned risk, best day versus total profit, and rule breaks. Then change one thing.
What to log on every trade
| Field | Why |
|---|---|
| Setup name | so you can compare setups, not just days |
| Planned stop and target | to see whether your losses match your plan |
| Actual entry, exit and size | the truth, including slippage |
| Rule broken (if any) | the most useful column in the whole journal |
| One line on why you took it | catches the trades you shouldn't have taken |
The four numbers to review weekly
- Expectancy from the week's trades.
- Average loss ÷ planned risk. Above 1 means your stops slip or move.
- Best day ÷ total profit. Your consistency number for firms that check it.
- Rule breaks. The number that should go to zero first.
Turn it into one change
Pick the single worst number and write one rule for next week. Not five. One change you can actually keep, then measure it again.
The simulator as a journal
Every trade you log in the simulator keeps its date, size and result, and the account shows your drawdown and daily limit after each one. Review the account at the end of the week and fill in the two columns only you know: the setup and the rule you broke.
Blow it here, not on a paid eval
Run the same rules on your own trades in the simulator. Free, no card, and a blown account costs you nothing but pride.
Start practicing