Starting to track trades, what's essential for a journal?

asked by u/mariesmith · 4d · 2 answers

Just started dabbling with options, mostly $SPY weeklies, and realize I need to get serious about tracking. Right now I'm just noting entry/exit and P/L in a spreadsheet, but I feel like I'm missing a lot of crucial data. For those of you who have a solid trade journal, what are the absolute must-haves you track that actually help you improve? Beyond the basics, what really makes a difference for reviewing your performance and strategy?

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  • u/sneha_khan· 1 pts· 4d

    Beyond the basic entry/exit/P&L, I'd strongly suggest adding your thesis for the trade, the setup you identified, and a brief note on your emotional state at entry and exit. Reviewing these later helps a lot with understanding your decision-making biases.

  • u/macro_mariam· 0 pts· 4d

    For $SPY weeklies, I'd say 'why you bought it' and 'why you sold it' are critical, even if the 'why' is just 'my finger slipped.' You'd be surprised what patterns emerge when you're forced to rationalize your impulses.

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