@NEILB76
mate, @tommor has given an answer , and it is correct
let me give the same answer from another point of view… ok
from an I.T. Point of view
If you asked me to create a database for you, i would ask you WHAT INFORMATION DO YOU NEED IN IT.
You might then say something like, it’s to keep track of clients, so Name , D.O.B. address , stuff like that would be relevant
this is the same thing
Step 1. Understand the purpose of the data
Data that doesn’t help you or that doesn’t answer a question is a waste of space and time
Step 2. Define the question that you need to answer or the Purpose of the data
so try this for a question
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF HAVING A TRADING JOURNAL (Specifically in your case)
if you are starting a journal because others do it… that’s silly. don’t follow the crowd because if you do YOU WILL LOSE (the Majority always loses)
so, having a toy to play with (aka Trade Journal) while you lose but making it look like you did something important is BS
STEP 2. Next, once you define the purpose of the data you then ask yourself what do you need to know and what do you not need to know
so out of these
What is necessary and what is not
i mean. examples… is timeframe really necessary ?
i would think things like TRADE ID definitely necessary (but it depends on your needs)
i think what you need to understand to begin with it…
The purpose of the journal is FOR SELF DEVELOPMENT AND TO MOVE FORWARD AND IMPROVE
so… ask yourself
WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW TO IMPROVE
WHAT AM I DOING WRONG NOW
so lets say your T/P is too far from your entry and you average 80 pips on your T/P
you might want to record
ENTRY PRICE
TAKE PROFIT
PIPS
TRADE ID
something like that and this would show you THE AMOUNT OF PIPS THAT YOU WIN IN A TRADE
now. if you want to know how quick or slow you win it, you might inlude the ENTRY TIME and CLOSE TIME
see what i mean
Make the data suite your purpose
Now what i think is the most important is this…
RECORD YOUR THOUGHTS
when i say Record, i mean VIDEO RECORD, Use screen capture software to record yourself and your trades and find time to watch yourself trading and observe yourself objectively and watch your patterns
this will teach you a lot about yourself
so basically, it’s what tommor said
but from another point of view
Hope that helps