JournalJuly 5, 20267 min
Trading journal: 5 metrics that matter more than PnL
Most journals optimize for the bottom-line number. But PnL mixes market luck, position size, and decision quality. Behavioral metrics tell the real story.
#metrics#analytics#discipline
1. Early exit rate
How many winners did you close before the plan? If half would have hit take-profit, the issue is fear — not strategy.
2. Stop-loss justification
Not every stop is a mistake. Track justified vs panic exits to see where protection works and where you capitulate.
3. Rule violations
Rules without tracking are decoration. Count trades where you exceeded risk, broke daily limits, or entered without setup.
4. Mood vs R correlation
Map your emotion journal to unit economics. Losing streaks often follow fatigue or stress — not a 'bad market'.
5. Average R when plan was followed
Measure R-multiple only on rule-compliant trades. That's an honest strategy benchmark without impulse noise.