HOW TO TRACK YOUR TRADES

Why Tracking Your Trades Matters

Most traders never improve because they rely on memory. But memory is emotional and selective — you remember the big wins and the painful losses, not the full picture. A structured trade journal gives you the real truth.

Tracking your trades helps you:

• Understand your real performance based on numbers, not feelings.
• Identify your best and worst setups with actual data.
• Spot repetitive mistakes and emotional triggers.
• Refine your strategy based on objective trade statistics.
• Build discipline and accountability over time.

What You Should Record in Your Trading Journal

Core Data to Record

Every trade should include the instrument, direction (buy/sell), entry price, stop loss, take profit and final outcome. These are the key values your trade statistics need to calculate your win rate, average return and risk–reward ratio.

Context and Strategy

Write a short note describing the setup you used, why you entered and whether the conditions matched your plan.

Emotional Notes

Add a brief description of how you felt before, during and after the trade. This is where a trade journal gives you psychological insight.

Why an Online Trading Journal Is More Effective

Many traders start by tracking trades in a spreadsheet. While this works for a short time, it becomes slow, messy and difficult to analyse as your trade count grows.

An online trading journal solves these problems by automating calculations, organising your data and displaying your trade statistics clearly.

How to Track Your Trades Step by Step

1. Log Trades at a Consistent Time

Choose a routine: log trades right after they close, or at the end of your session.

2. Fill in the Essential Data

Record the market, entry, SL, TP and result.

3. Add Notes on Execution and Setup

Write what setup you used, any rule you followed or broke, and how well you executed.

4. Review Your Results Weekly

Once a week, open your trade journal and review your data based on at least 20–30 trades.

Common Mistakes Traders Make When Tracking Trades

Many traders give up on tracking because they overcomplicate the process. Your trading journal should be simple enough to maintain long-term.

Another common mistake is tracking trades but never reviewing them. The power of a trade journal comes from analysing your trade statistics.

How TradeTrackr Helps You Track Trades

TradeTrackr simplifies your entire process by giving you an online trading journal that automatically builds your trade statistics.

You instantly see how your win rate evolves, which setups work best, how your equity curve behaves and how disciplined you are with risk.

Building a Long-Term Habit of Tracking Trades

The true value of a trading journal appears over dozens or hundreds of trades. Patterns emerge, strengths become clear and weaknesses can be corrected with precision.