Journal guide
The journal format we teach in mentorship
This sample layout is adapted for each client's markets and session times. It prioritises chart marks and written reasoning over outcome columns.
Why structure matters
Most traders know they should journal but fill in fields that do not change behaviour — ticker, direction, profit. Our template forces you to document what you saw on the chart before you clicked, what you expected price to do, and whether reality matched that expectation.
Pre-trade section (complete before entry)
Date / Session: _______________
Instrument: _______________
Timeframe: _______________
Direction: Long / Short
Key levels marked:
Prior session high/low, overnight range, obvious swing points
Setup description:
What price action pattern or structure triggered interest? (2–3 sentences)
Invalidation:
Exact price where the thesis fails. Attach annotated screenshot.
Target logic:
Where might price reach if thesis holds? Partial exits noted?
Emotional state (1–5):
1 = calm, 5 = urgent/reactive. One word on why.
In-trade section (optional, for open positions)
Management notes: Did you move stop or target? Write why before you click.
Price behaviour vs expectation: Is price respecting your marked levels?
Post-trade section (within 24 hours of close)
Outcome: Win / Loss / BE
R-multiple: ___
Did price do what you expected?
Yes / Partially / No — describe in one paragraph without rewriting your pre-trade thesis.
Rule adherence:
Which of your stated rules did you follow or break?
One improvement for next similar setup:
Single concrete change, not a vague "be more disciplined."
Weekly review page
Every Sunday (or your chosen review day), add a summary page covering:
- Total trades taken vs planned maximum
- Count of entries where pre-trade section was completed before click
- Most common rule broken this week
- One chart pattern you misread repeatedly — with screenshot
- Focus for the coming week (one sentence)
Get a template matched to your trading
We customise section labels, session definitions, and annotation conventions during mentorship or a dedicated template setup session.