The core fields every trader needs
Start with the basics: date, symbol, direction, entry, stop loss, target or exit, result, setup tag, mistake tag, and lesson. These fields make your trades easy to filter and review.
Screenshot traders should also save chart context. A chart image with entry and stop makes the journal much more useful than numbers alone.
Add behavior fields
Most traders do not fail because they cannot name candlestick patterns. They fail because of timing, emotion, size, and rule discipline. Add fields for session, emotion, trade type, and whether the plan was followed.
These fields help you find patterns like: I lose most when I trade after missing the first move, or I perform better during London than late New York.
Keep the lesson short
A journal lesson should be specific and actionable. Instead of writing 'bad trade', write 'entered before confirmation because price moved quickly'.
The template should help you write a cleaner sentence, not force you to write an essay.
Review the template weekly
At the end of the week, count repeated setups, repeated mistakes, strongest session, weakest session, and whether your plan was followed. That is where a journal becomes a coach.
If a field is never used, remove it. If a mistake keeps repeating, make it easier to tag.