Five Questions I Ask After a Losing Trade

Losses tempt elaborate post-mortems. I limit myself to five written questions so the review stays usable on tired evenings. They are printed on a card beside the keyboard and I do not add a sixth on bad days.

First: did I take this setup under my written rules or under an exception? I highlight the rule number in the journal if it existed. Second: was size appropriate at entry, not after the trade went against me? Third: what did price action show at my exit point versus my planned exit — one sentence, no diagrams yet. Fourth: what emotion was present at entry and at exit, using plain words like hesitant, calm, or rushed. Fifth: one thing I will watch for tomorrow, stated as an observable behaviour, not a vow to "be disciplined."

The card looks almost too simple. That is intentional. Complex frameworks collapse when you are frustrated. Participants in our workshop often report that question four feels awkward at first — naming emotion on paper can seem soft until they notice repeated entries saying "rushed" on the same setup type.

These questions do not replace weekly pattern review. They bridge the gap between closing the platform and leaving the desk with the day captured honestly. If you borrow them, keep the card visible and write by hand when possible. Typing invites editing; handwriting slows the story enough to be useful.