Journal Template (Sticky)
Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2026 2:52 pm
Short enough to finish. Strict enough to learn from.
Long novels that you abandon by Wednesday teach nothing. I run short rows and ruthless codes. Vanity writing is for memoirs. This is maintenance.
Daily header
Per trade row
Mistake codes (starter set — steal / extend)
Emotion codes
Setup IDs (examples — use your own vocabulary)
End-of-day (5 lines max)
Minimum viable discipline
If you only log ticker, setup_id, result_R, mistake_code, you can still learn. Empty novels help no one. Missed days: mark `NO_JOURNAL` — hiding skips biases your stats. I've marked NO_JOURNAL. It stung. Good.
Weekly excerpts OK on the board. No balance flex. Post a day → include mistake codes. Wins without codes teach little.
What's your minimum viable log on a busy day?
Which mistake_code dominates your last 20 trades?
Do you mark NO_JOURNAL on skip days, or quietly pretend they didn't happen?
One adjustment tomorrow — do you actually cap it at one?
Long novels that you abandon by Wednesday teach nothing. I run short rows and ruthless codes. Vanity writing is for memoirs. This is maintenance.
Daily header
Code: Select all
DATE (ET):
SLEEP (1–5):
MAX DD SET $ / R:
PLAN ADHERENCE (1–5):
NETWORK / VPS NOTE (optional):
Code: Select all
# | time_et | ticker | setup_id | side | size | intent | fill | slip_c | result_R | mistake_code | emotion_code | notes
Code: Select all
CHASE, EARLY, LATE, NO_PLAN, SIZE_UP_REVENGE, SKIPPED_STOP, MOVED_STOP,
ILLIQUID, NEWS_BLIND, BROKE_FIRST15, HOTKEY_ERR, SPREAD_TAX, OTHER
Code: Select all
CALM, FOMO, FEAR, BORED, ANGRY, TILT
Code: Select all
OR_HOLD, OR_BREAK, VWAP_CONT, VWAP_FADE, GAP_GO, GAP_FADE, TAPE_SWEEP
Code: Select all
What worked:
What breached:
One adjustment tomorrow (single):
Breaker hit? Y/N
Screenshots linked (optional):
If you only log ticker, setup_id, result_R, mistake_code, you can still learn. Empty novels help no one. Missed days: mark `NO_JOURNAL` — hiding skips biases your stats. I've marked NO_JOURNAL. It stung. Good.
Weekly excerpts OK on the board. No balance flex. Post a day → include mistake codes. Wins without codes teach little.
What's your minimum viable log on a busy day?
Which mistake_code dominates your last 20 trades?
Do you mark NO_JOURNAL on skip days, or quietly pretend they didn't happen?
One adjustment tomorrow — do you actually cap it at one?