Basically FuturesUnderstand it
Before trading, check the economic calendar, contract expiry, session constraints, risk allowance and eligible setup. During trading, record why each entry qualified and whether orders behaved as expected. After trading, distinguish execution errors from strategy outcomes. Keep routines short enough to follow and collect information that can actually improve a decision. A journal becomes valuable through consistent review, not the number of fields.
A five-minute daily review might record: valid signals seen, trades taken, risk used, plan violations, and one rule to improve. This is more actionable than writing 'felt bad today.'
Watch for this misconception
Creating a complicated ritual that is abandoned after a difficult session.
Design a 5-item preflight checklist and a 3-item after-action review.
Trading plan builder ↗What makes a trading journal useful over time?
Check the sources
Hypothetical educational examples. Verify current product specifications and rules before making decisions.