7 January 2026
Building a post-trade review that does not excuse you
Journal templates often hide soft language. Replace excuses with three questions that force a behavioural answer.
A journal entry that says "market was choppy" teaches nothing. Markets are often choppy. The useful line is whether you followed the entry criteria you wrote before the open.
We recommend three questions after every closed trade: Did I take the setup that matched my plan? Did I size according to the risk I stated that morning? Did I exit for a rule or for a feeling? Each answer must be yes or no, with one sentence of evidence.
Analysts who keep this format for a month usually discover a pattern — early exits after green days, or size increases after two wins. That pattern becomes the topic of a Discipline Review session, not another indicator search.
Honesty in the journal is uncomfortable. It is also the cheapest form of training available before you book a live clinic.