What should I write in a trading journal?
Write down the facts of each trade: market, time, size, entry, stop, target, exit and the result in dollars. Add one yes-or-no line on whether you followed your plan, and a short note on what you felt before you clicked. Then review the week every Friday and look for patterns, not single trades.
What fields should every entry have?
Keep it short enough that you fill it in after every trade.
| Field | Made-up example |
|---|---|
| Date and time (HST) | Tuesday, 9:12 pm |
| Market and size | 1 MNQ |
| Entry, stop, target | Entry, stop 10 points below, target 20 points above |
| Exit and result | Stopped out, minus $20 |
| Followed my plan? | Yes |
| What I felt before I clicked | Calm, a little rushed |
| Screenshot | Chart at entry and at exit |
Notebook, spreadsheet or app?
Any of them works if you use it every time. A notebook is fine. A spreadsheet lets you sort. A journal app adds charts and filters.
Journal apps such as TradeZella are one option. Pick the one you will actually keep.
How do I review my journal?
Once a week, count how many trades broke your plan, and find the one habit that cost the most. Change only that one thing next week.
- Sort by time of day. Do you break rules at a certain hour?
- Sort by feeling. Do rushed trades lose more?
- Read your notes out loud. Patterns are easier to hear.
What should I leave out?
Leave out long stories and excuses. Write what happened, not why the market was wrong.
Common mistakes
- Writing only the dollar result.
- Journaling only the losing trades.
- Reviewing every trade alone instead of the week as a whole.
Sources
Last reviewed: 2026-10-16
Read next
- Futures 101, Lesson 6: Your first plan
- Your journal beats any indicator
- All futures questions, answered
Disclosure: HTA is a TradeZella affiliate. If you sign up through our link, HTA may earn a fee. Any journal works; a notebook works too.
Not sure what to fix first?
Take the free trader quiz. It has 13 questions, takes about 3 minutes, and shows which part of your trading process to work on first: risk, edge, execution or review.
Mahalo for reading and trade well!
Glenn & Reid | Hawaiʻi Trading Academy
Risk disclaimer: Education only. Not financial advice. Trading futures involves substantial risk of loss. Futures are not suitable for every investor, and you can lose more than your initial deposit. Examples on this page use made-up numbers to teach the math. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Hawaiʻi Trading Academy provides education only. We are not financial advisors, and nothing on this page is a recommendation to buy or sell any financial product. HTA is not affiliated with CME Group or any exchange or agency named here. Times, rules and dates can change; check the source before you trade.
