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🎯 Strategy and practice · Intermediate · 9 min read · Lesson 29 of 42 · Free with an account

How to write a trading plan and keep a trading journal (free template)

A trading plan is the rulebook you write when you are calm, so you follow it when you are not. A journal is the record that shows whether the rules work and whether you follow them.

Trading plan template

SectionWrite down
GoalsProcess goals, for example “follow my rules on 95% of trades”, not “make $1,000 a month”
Markets and timeframesWhich instruments, which charts
Trading hoursWhen you trade and when you never trade
SetupsExact entry rules with chart examples
Risk rulesRisk per trade, max daily loss, max open trades
Exit rulesStop loss, take profit, when to move the stop
News rulesWhat you do around high-impact events
ReviewWhen and how you review
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Questions people ask

Do I need special software for a journal?

No. A spreadsheet or notebook works. What matters is recording every trade and reviewing weekly.

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Educational content only, not financial, investment or tax advice. Trading forex and CFDs carries a high risk of losing money. Look up any term in the trading glossary.