Capture three moments
Keep a view before entry, a relevant moment during the trade and the state after exit. Record whether each image was captured then or reconstructed later. Reconstructions can be useful, but should remain identifiable as such.
Keep the necessary context visible
Instrument, contract month, bar type, time zone, visible data timestamp and indicator settings belong with the evidence. Distinguish levels known before the decision from later annotations. A cropped chart without axes can hide the actual stop distance.
Structure a synthetic review entry
Example: 14:30 UTC, ES, one-minute chart. Before the trade: expected contact with a previously marked area. During it: actual entry, original stop and observed behavior. Afterward: exit, costs and one specific deviation from the plan.
Connect the note to its trade ID and trading day. The chart remains findable when later reviewing by setup or session. Accounting still comes from executions, not points estimated from the image.
| Moment | What is recorded |
|---|---|
| Before entry | Available information and plan |
| While the position is open | Decision and observed path |
| After exit | Execution, costs and review question |