2-1/2 Years Part Time - How I Journal

[Skye 28]

I have been trading the open, then working, and for the last 9 or 10 months, then working on a major house project with the rest of my daylight hours so time has been very short.

I've tried various forms of journaling, from simple DIY to other people's elaborate spread sheet, software, and web apps. I am very happy with what I'm doing now as a way of getting the information I need while keeping the process short. That last part is important. The less time it takes, the more likely I am to stay on it and get useful information out of it.

So here it is. It's really simple but is working the best for me by far:

1st, recording video with audio (the chat and me on a head set). I use OBS to record and VLC for playback. I have the days trades displayed in DAS and it's super easy and quick to move the slider to just before a trade and then watch/listen. The speed is really easy to adjust with hot keys which is really great to study trade management especially (and Andrew is really entertaining at 1.8x speed:-) I also talk my way through which helps while I'm actually trading. And wow, watching video, especially while listening to what I was thinking real-time is worth SO MUCH more than pictures!

2nd, I use a daily spread sheet to enter my risk, Gross $, estimated net $, gross & estimated net R, and gross & net account balances. I only need to enter my risk, gross $, and shares bought to get this info. Here's what it looks like:

Date	Gross	Net	R	Shares	Gross R	Cum. R	Gross Bal.	Net Bal.
09/21/20	14	7	13	158	1.1	0.0	6274	3910
09/22/20	-6	-17	26	598	-0.2	-0.2	6268	3893
09/23/20	17	10	15	168	1.1	0.9	6285	3903
09/24/20	26	22	15	169	1.7	2.6	6311	3926
09/28/20	-14	-22	25	300	-0.6	2.1	6297	3904
09/29/20	16	2	24	694	0.7	2.7	6313	3906
09/30/20	-70	-83	34	1530	-2.1	0.7	6243	3698

 

I also have monthly totals and average R & win rates over a few time frames:

Average R	0.2	Last 5
Average R	0.4	Last 10
Average R	0.5	Last 20
Win Rate	60%	Last 5
Win Rate	70%	Last 10
Win Rate	75%	Last 20

 

This data also generates charts for cumulative gross R, daily R scatter plot (with 10-day moving average), and a gross & net account balance graph.  All of this stuff is based on days, not trades.

 

 

 

 

Then the newest thing, tracking whether I followed the rules or not, the accumulated R for each, and some notes. This is per-trade, not day like above. This has been a huge help to me! I can calculate what I would be doing if I actually followed my stupid rules!!! I can see how much it's costing me not to follow my stupid rules!!! And I can see which strategies might be working better or worse. The big value this has brought me is understanding that my trades are working (if I would just follow my stupid rules!:-) and what my results would be if I did. It means, if those results are what I want, I can focus on what's important (following the stupid rules!) instead of looking for some amazing strategy which will make everything better. And that rule-following data, it's in my face every day:

R	3.8	-2.0	Trade
#	28.0	5.0
Average	0.1	-0.4
	Followed Rules
September	Yes	No
09/21/20	0.7		1 ORB	Would have been more but got out late after 1st cover.
	-0.7		MA
	1.4		MA
		-0.4	MA	Shorted just above the 50 on the 5.
09/22/20	-1.1		5 ORB
	-0.2		5 ORB
		-0.3	MA	Tried reversal w/Brian
	1.2		MA	Did 2nd cover a bit to early.
	-0.3		VWAP	VWAP before Z
	0.4		MA	VWAP – Z
09/23/20		-0.1	1 ORB	Entered near VWAP for close safe stop but after 1 min. engulfing
	1.6		1 ORB	In w/Brian
	-0.9		5 ORB	2nd 1 min. ORB
	0.5		VWAP
09/24/20	1.7		5 ORB	In under MA
Weekend		Need to work on:		MA rules, closer stops, cut losers sooner
09/28/20		-1.3	VWAP	Didn’t sell after low vol. On 1 min.
	-0.1		VWAP	Low vol.
	0.6		1 MA	Not on 5 MA
	0.2		VWAP
	0.0		1-5 MA	Low vol.
09/29/20	0.0		1 ORB	Low vol.
	-0.1		5 ORB	Low vol.
	-0.1		1-5 MA
	-0.1		1-5 MA
	0.7		1-5 MA
	-0.9		1-5 MA
	1.1		VWAP
09/30/20	-1.5		1 ORB	Was struggling & gave me chances to exit near BE.
	-0.2		VWAP
	1.8		VWAP
	-1.1		Rev
	-1.0		1 MA

 

I am also experimenting with a dynamic risk calculator which raises & lowers risk based on the average R and win rate over the last 5 days. The idea is that it will pull the risk out automatically when I start veering off the righteous path (like I did in July - ugh...). I think I like it but may tweak the calculator some after I have had more time with it.

I hope this helps someone. I'm happy to share the spread sheet with anyone who would like it.

 

[ctp 0]

Hi @Skye,

 

Thanks for sharing this information about your journaling. I am currently is a very similar position like yours. My day is fully occupied as well and I have been looking for a journaling solution that would help me improve while making it simple and quick. It would be great if you can record a video that explains your journaling and post it here. I would appreciate it if you can share your excel sheet. Thanks

[Skye 28]

Hi CTP, sorry for the delay. I tried responding sooner but issues with the site prevented it.

I was thinking nobody was going to respond! I thought at least I'd get some comments about my fantastic summer performance in the graph above! Too hot to work on my house in the afternoons so I tried doing that in the morning & trading afternoons. Won't do that again - at least not in the summer.

Don't think I can swing a video but I'll make sure the spread sheet is ready to share and get it to you this weekend.

[Skye 28]

Hi CTP, finally got this updated. The forum won't allow me to attach a spreadsheet so I sent you a direct message asking for your email. Get back to me & I'll get the spreadsheet over to you.

After more time with the dynamic risk control, I have to say I really like it.

[JS 10]

Nice Journal Skye.

May I ask what caused the big drawdown between mid July to September? Thanks!

[Skye 28]

I have been working on a HUGE house project on the outside of my house for the last year. It got too hot in the summer here to work outside in the afternoon so I started working outside early morning & tried trading afternoons. My risk got dropped down though so it didn't cost me too much.