Build a Trading Review You Can Repeat

Capture the decision before the result Write the setup in plain language before entering: what you saw, what would confirm it, what would invalidate it, and why the instrument matched the idea. Include the symbol, timeframe, session, and account context. This protects the review from hindsight. A chart looks obvious after the move, but the decision had to be made with the information available at the time. Separate the plan from the fill After the position is closed or the session ends, compare the planned entry, size, stop, target, and time horizon with what actually happened. Note partial fills, spread changes, delays, and any manual changes. A trade can lose while following the plan, or win while violating it. Those are different outcomes and require different next steps. Use patterns without inventing certainty Group reviews by setup, timeframe, instrument, session, and market condition only when you have enough examples to compare. Look for repeated behaviors such as late entries, oversized positions, ignored invalidations, or exits made from fear. Avoid turning a small streak into a rule. A journal is evidence for a question, not proof that a method will work in every future market. Choose one change to test The best review ends with one specific experiment: wait for a particular confirmation, reduce size after a defined event, or stop entering beyond a written level. Keep the change small enough that you can tell whether it helped. Use the Terminal journal and account-specific history where available, and keep sensitive account information private. For help with journal or position context, see /help/articles/terminal-account-positions-trading-guide.