In investing, we celebrate the good wins.
But the not-so-good wins? Those are the ones that quietly shape us.
I’ve come to treasure my investing journal — whether written by hand in a notebook or typed into a digital app. It’s where I record:
• The excitement before entering a position
• The conviction (or hesitation) behind a decision
• The outcome — good or bad
• Most importantly: what I learned
Because over time, patterns emerge.
A big gain teaches confidence — but it can also teach overconfidence.
A loss stings — but it sharpens clarity.
The journal becomes less about performance and more about process.
✍️ Why I Journal (Written + Digital)
I used to write everything by hand. There’s something grounding about pen and paper — it slows the mind and forces honesty.
Other times, I switch to digital — easier to:
• Search past decisions
• Tag themes (FOMO, conviction, macro thesis, valuation error)
• Track metrics over time
Both methods have their place. The key is consistency, not format.
🧠 What I Record After Each Investment
• Why I entered
• Thesis
• Catalyst
• Risk assessment
• What I felt
• Was I calm?
• Was I chasing?
• Was I influenced by noise?
• Outcome vs Process
• Was it a good decision but bad outcome?
• Or bad decision but lucky outcome?
• Lesson extracted
• About markets
• About risk
• About myself
Over time, this builds emotional intelligence — not just financial returns.
📊 My Methods & Tools
Here’s how I think about it:
Handwritten Journal
Best for:
• Reflection
• Post-mortem after a trade
• Big picture thinking
•
Digital Tools
Some investors use:
• Notion – customizable templates & tagging
• Microsoft OneNote – flexible and searchable
• Evernote – structured archiving
• Google Sheets – tracking numbers & performance
• Obsidian – linking ideas like a second brain
Personally, I like separating:
• Emotional journal (narrative form)
• Data log (spreadsheet tracking)
This keeps feelings from mixing with statistics — both matter, but differently.
🌱 The Most Important Realization
An investing journal isn’t about documenting perfection.
It’s about:
• Building self-awareness
• Refining decision frameworks
• Reducing repeated mistakes
• Growing in clarity
Sometimes the best entries come from the not-so-good wins — where the market rewards a bad habit. Those are dangerous. That’s where journaling protects us.
I’m curious —
Do you review your journal monthly? Quarterly? After every trade?
And do you find handwritten reflection deeper than digital?
Let’s make this a good sharing.
@TigerPM @CaptainTiger @TigerBrokers @Tiger_comments @TigerEvents @koolgal @Barcode @Emotional Investor @Terra_Incognita @vodkalime @DCamel @ahyi @GoodLife99
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