Why you need a Prop Trading Journal & How to Create one

A trading journal is a record of all your trades, including the strategy used, the outcome, and any observations or lessons learned. It’s an essential tool for any serious proprietary trader. Firstly, let’s look at why you need a prop trading journal:

1. A trading journal helps you track your trading performance

A prop trading journal allows you to keep a detailed record of all your trades. This includes the good, the bad, and the ugly. By tracking your performance, you can identify trends, spot potential problems, and make informed decisions about your trading strategy.

2. It helps you identify your strengths and weaknesses

By keeping a journal, you can identify patterns in your trading behavior. You can see what strategies work best for you and which ones need improvement. This can help you focus on your strengths and work on your weaknesses.

3. You can learn from your mistakes

Mistakes are inevitable in trading. However, by keeping a journal, you can learn from these mistakes and avoid repeating them in the future.

4. It can help you develop a better trading plan

A trading journal can help you develop a better trading plan by providing valuable insights into your trading habits and strategies. It allows you to reflect on your trades and make necessary adjustments to improve your performance.

5. It can help you become a more disciplined and profitable trader

Keeping a journal requires discipline, but it’s a discipline that can lead to more profitable trading. By regularly reviewing your journal, you can stay accountable for your trading plan and make more informed decisions.

Now that we are done with the benefits, let’s take a look at how you can create your trading journal. Here’s how:

1. Choose a Format

The format can be a notebook, spreadsheet, or online journal—whatever works best for you.

2. Decide what Information to Track

This might include the trade date, currency pair, entry and exit prices, stop-loss and take-profit levels, profit or loss, reasons for the trade, etc. Pick what is most important to you, write it down, and track the journey.

3. Record your Trades immediately

As soon as a trade is completed, record it in your journal. This is important because if you miss documenting a few trades, you may not get an objective final evaluation.

4. Review Regularly

Make time to review your journal regularly. Look for patterns, identify areas for improvement, and adjust your trading plan accordingly.




In summary, journaling your prop trading is essential for your growth. Start today (if you haven’t already). Grab a notebook or open up a new spreadsheet and start recording your trades. Try to be as honest and objective as possible in your entries; don’t be afraid to admit mistakes. Use your journal to refine your trading plan and track your progress over time.