> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.tradealign.app/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Journaling a Trade

> Complete walkthrough of the structured journaling flow — from trade review to behavioral reflection.

<Note>
  Journaling in TradeAlign is a **post-execution process** designed to capture decision quality, emotional state, and behavioral alignment — not to justify outcomes. Each journal entry follows a structured flow. Completing it honestly is what unlocks meaningful review and insight.
</Note>

## Step 1: Open a trade for journaling

1. Navigate to the [Trades Page](/journal/trades-page)
2. Select the trade you want to journal

This opens the **Trade Journal** view for that specific trade.

## Step 2: Review trade overview

At the top of the journal, you'll see a read-only summary of the trade:

* Instrument and direction (Long / Short)
* Entry and exit times
* Duration
* Entry and exit prices
* Position size
* P\&L
* Align Score

This section anchors the journal in objective facts.

## Step 3: Define trade construction

This section captures *why* the trade was taken.

**Context** — Select the session or market context in which the trade occurred (e.g., AM Session).

**Setup / Strategy** — Choose the setup or strategy that best describes the trade. These selections help group trades during review and pattern analysis.

## Step 4: Define risk and reward

**Stop loss** *(Required)*

Enter the stop loss price. This defines where the trade is invalid.

<Warning>
  You **must** define a stop loss to save the journal entry.
</Warning>

**Reward target** *(Optional)*

Enter the intended target price, if applicable.

Risk definition is mandatory because TradeAlign evaluates **decision quality**, not just outcomes.

## Step 5: Complete the post-trade audit

This section evaluates execution quality using objective questions. Answer each item honestly:

* Followed predefined entry criteria
* Emotionally centered before entering
* Trade matched strategy
* Followed risk management plan
* Would you take this trade again?

There are no "correct" answers — this is about accuracy, not scoring.

## Step 6: Identify mistakes (if any)

Select any mistakes that occurred during the trade:

* Early or late entry
* FOMO entry
* Oversized position
* Exited too early or held too long
* Moved or ignored stop loss
* Overtrading

If no mistakes occurred, select **None**. Mistake tagging surfaces recurring behavioral patterns over time.

## Step 7: Rate execution quality

Use the **Execution Rating** to score how well the trade was executed relative to your plan. This rating reflects process adherence, emotional control, and decision clarity — not P\&L.

## Step 8: Log emotional state

Select all emotional states that were present during the trade. Emotions are grouped into three categories based on how they affect your trading:

| Category              | Emotions                                                       | What it means                  |
| --------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------ |
| **Composed** (green)  | Confident, Focused, Patient, Calm                              | Supports disciplined execution |
| **Reactive** (red)    | Anxious, Frustrated, Fearful, Impulsive, Angry, Revenge-driven | Likely to break rules          |
| **Unsettled** (amber) | Excited, Bored, Uncertain, Distracted, Indifferent             | Could go either way            |

Multiple selections are allowed. These are the same emotions used in the [Game Plan](/game-plan/overview), so your pre-session state and during-trade state can be compared in analytics. See [Emotions & Mistakes](/journal/emotions-and-mistakes) for detailed descriptions of each emotion.

## Step 9: Learning & adjustment

**Core Reflection** — Describe what behavior moved you closer to or further from becoming a long-term successful trader.

**Tomorrow's Adjustment** — State one specific change you will make based on this trade.

Keep responses concise and behavior-focused.

## Step 10: Add screenshots and notes *(optional)*

Upload a chart screenshot if available, and add any additional notes or observations. This section supports context but is not required.

## Step 11: Mark trade as reviewed

Toggle **Mark trade as reviewed** to **YES**. This locks the journal entry and signals completion.

## Step 12: Save the journal

Click **Save Journal**. If the stop loss is not defined, saving will be disabled.

Once saved, the trade becomes part of your review and analytics workflows.

<Note>
  If you copy-traded this entry across multiple accounts, after you save TradeAlign offers to apply this same journal to the matching trades in your other accounts — so you only journal it once. See [Copy Trades](/journal/copy-trades).
</Note>

***

## What journaling is (and isn't)

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Journaling IS" icon="check">
    A behavioral snapshot. A decision audit. A self-coaching tool.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Journaling is NOT" icon="xmark">
    A performance justification. A narrative recap. A hindsight exercise.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>