The best way to keep a trading journal is to make it small enough to use on a difficult day. Start with a repeatable process: plan before entry, a short note after exit, and a weekly review of the patterns.
Do not try to write a perfect account of the market. Write enough to answer one question later: “Was this a good decision, even if it lost?”
Before the trade
Write the setup, entry, invalidation, target, risk amount, and reason the trade qualifies. This creates a reference point before the outcome can influence your memory.
After the trade
Record the result, a screenshot, whether the plan held, and one sentence about your state. Use the post-trade routine to keep this fast.
At the end of the week
Group trades by setup, session, and rule adherence. Look for one repeatable improvement rather than rewriting your plan after a single loss. PnL App is built to make that context visible alongside performance data.
Your first seven days
For one week, use only these five fields: setup, planned risk, actual result, rule followed or broken, and one sentence about your state. Consistency beats detail. Once you can review seven honest days, you will know which extra fields are worth adding.
