A trading journal built for learning.

Record the plan before the outcome

Save a timestamped hypothesis, the observation supporting it, the planned decision rule, and the conditions that would invalidate it. Use neutral wording rather than writing a prediction as though it already happened.

Record a setup identifier only when its definition is available. A label invented after the trade may be useful for research, but it should not masquerade as a pre-existing decision rule.

Preserve what happened

Record instrument, direction, position size, entries, exits, fees, and relevant timing. Define whether one row represents a completed position or another unit. The downloadable starter uses one row per completed long-only sample position; a separate execution log is needed for multiple fills.

The example CSV has two explicitly fictional positions. Its net profit or loss is exit value minus entry value minus recorded fees. It is not a broker export or a suggested trading plan.

Review process and outcome independently

A rule-following decision can lose money and a rule-breaking decision can profit. Record adherence without changing the score after seeing the result. Keep costs and exposure visible so the outcome is not interpreted only through a winning percentage.

Read a journal you can learn from for a more complete review procedure, including missed opportunities and prospective questions.

Keep sensitive records local

The starter files download directly and require no account. This site does not ask you to upload a journal, link a brokerage, or submit positions. Store your own records using protections appropriate to their sensitivity and avoid putting credentials in notes.

Use the blank CSV to establish your own column definitions and the fictional example only to understand the format. A spreadsheet application may need the date and identifier columns imported as text to preserve their intended representation.