What should I write in a trading journal?

A trading journal is a simple record of each trade and why you took it. The goal is not to look busy. The goal is to spot the habits that cost you money, so you can fix one at a time.

1. The setup. What pattern or reason made you enter? Use the same name each time (for example "breakout" or "pullback"), so you can compare later.
2. Your plan before entry. Entry price, stop, and target. Write it before you click buy or sell.
3. Risk. How much could you lose if the stop hits?
4. What happened. Exit price and result.
5. Did you follow your plan? Yes or no. If no, what did you change, and why?
6. How you felt. Calm, rushed, angry after a loss, excited after a win. One or two words is enough.

Many traders say the same mistakes hurt them: moving stops, overtrading, and revenge trading after a loss. A yes/no rule check makes these easy to see. After 20 or 30 trades, look at the "no" rows. Do they lose more than the "yes" rows? That is your first thing to fix.

People often quit journaling once they start winning, or skip it on busy days. Make each entry take a minute or two. A short entry you actually write beats a long one you skip.

If you passed on a setup on purpose, note it. Later you can check whether waiting was the right call.

• Which setup did best? Which did worst?
• How many trades broke your rules?
• What was your mood on your worst days?
• Pick one change for next week.

All work. A notebook is easy to start. A spreadsheet can sort and filter. A journal app can save time on tagging and review. Pick the one you will keep using.

SetupMemo is an AI trade journal for crypto (including memecoins), NASDAQ, S&P, and commodities traders. It has a Free plan and a Pro plan.