A practical learning path
Trading Journal Guides & Templates
Build a trading journal workflow from pre-trade planning to weekly review. Explore templates, practical examples, and journal software comparisons.
Start with the question, then the number.
A useful journal records both what happened and why you acted. Begin with a small repeatable set of fields, capture position changes while they are fresh, and use a weekly review to connect strategy tags with net outcomes. Add complexity only when it answers a specific review question.
Your working checklist
- Capture entry, stop, size, planned risk, and the setup thesis before entry.
- Record adds, partial exits, stop changes, and the reason for each decision.
- Reconcile net P&L to fills, commissions, and funding after closing.
- Tag strategy and execution separately so results do not blur them together.
- Review the same fields weekly and choose one process question to investigate.
Work through the guides
How to Set Up a Trading Journal for Better Trade Review
Set up a trading journal that records risk, execution, and review notes so you can evaluate decisions with clearer context.
From the journalTrading Journal Template: What to Track Before, During, and After Every Trade
Use a trading journal template to record planned risk, fees, position changes, and net R. Includes a free copyable template and a weekly review structure.
From the journalHow to Write a Trading Journal Entry That Improves Your Trades
Write trading journal entries that reveal execution, fee-aware net R, and repeatable patterns. Use this practical structure before and after each trade.
From the journalBuild a Repeatable Trading Process With a Trading Journal
Build a repeatable trading process with fee-aware position sizing, a trading journal, and R-based review.
From the journalCrypto Futures Trading Plan Template: A Practical Guide
Build a crypto futures trading plan with clear risk, entry, sizing, fee, management, and review rules you can apply before a trade.
From the journalAI Trading Journal: What It Actually Does vs What Vendors Claim
What an AI trading journal can do with your notes and performance data, where it falls short, and how to evaluate the claims.
From the journalThe Problem With Spreadsheet Trading Journals
Learn when a spreadsheet trading journal helps, where its formulas break down, and how to build a cleaner review workflow.
Apply the numbers
Position Size Calculator
Calculate crypto position size from account risk, entry, stop loss, and trading fees. See quantity, notional value, and planned risk. Free, no signup.
Free toolR-Multiple Calculator
Convert net trading profit or loss into R-multiples using initial planned risk. Compare trades with different position sizes using a free calculator.