Trading in Action – From Setup to Execution
📍 Why You Need a Trading Journal
🔹 Tracks your performance over time to see what works and what doesn’t
🔹 Helps you avoid emotional trading by sticking to facts and data
🔹 Shows patterns in your trades – what pairs, setups, and risk levels work best
🔹 Keeps you disciplined and accountable, forcing you to refine your strategy
📍 Your Google Sheets Trading Journal Setup
Your journal should track every detail that affects your trades. Here’s how to set it up:
Column Name Purpose
Date & Time When the trade was taken
Pair Currency pair traded
Win/Loss Outcome of the trade
Start Balance Account balance before the trade
Margin Used Amount of margin allocated
Risk Per Trade Percentage of account risked
$ Risk Amount Dollar amount risked
Entry Price Price at which trade was entered
Risk to Reward The trade's risk/reward ratio
Profit/Loss Profit or loss in dollars
📍 How to Use Your Journal Effectively
🔹 Log Every Trade Immediately – Don’t rely on memory; record trades as they happen
🔹 Analyze Your Performance Weekly – Identify strengths, weaknesses, and recurring mistakes
🔹 Refine Your Strategy Based on Data – Adjust risk, setups, and execution based on results
🔹 Stay Disciplined – Avoid overtrading or revenge trading by reviewing past mistakes
🔑 Key Takeaway
Your trading journal is your personal roadmap to success. The more detailed and consistent you are, the faster you’ll improve. Track your trades, analyze your data, and refine your approach—this is what separates professionals from amateurs.