Look Back Before You Celebrate
Being retrospective simply means reflecting on what already happened.
Sure, after wrapping up a trading session, you might be tempted to call your crew, hit up happy hour, knock back shots of Patrón, and pop some Dom Pérignon.
But hold up.
Before the party starts, take time to review your trade—win or lose.
This reflection helps you learn, grow, and avoid making the same mistakes twice.
Ask Yourself the Right Questions
🧠 How well did the trade actually go?
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Did it hit your expected target?
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Was your position size in line with your risk/reward plan? Or was it way off?
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Could you have found a better entry point?
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Were there tools (indicators, signals, patterns) you should’ve used for better timing?
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Were you patient, or did you jump in out of FOMO?
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Was your take profit level realistic or just wishful thinking?
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Did price respect your levels? Or did it blow right through them?
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What external factors (news/events) moved the market?
Use your answers to fine-tune your approach next time.
🔄 How did you manage the trade after entry?
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Were you able to keep up with the market while the trade was open? If yes, how? If not, why not?
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Did you tweak your plan mid-trade?
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Did you move your stop loss to lock in profits?
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Did you take partial profits at any point?
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Did you exit based on your plan—or were you caught off guard?
Your answers will help you understand how well you followed your rules—and how much emotion got involved.
📝 Record, Don’t Rant
You might feel like dumping your feelings on your friends.
But let’s be honest—they’re probably tired of hearing about your “almost” win.
Write it all down instead. That’s where the real insight happens.
🎯 What can you improve—and how?
This is your shot at real self-improvement.
Don’t just jot down vague promises like:
“I need to hold winners longer.”
“I need to cut losses faster.”
“I should be more disciplined.”
That’s fluff.
Instead, ask:
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How will I hold my winners longer? Will I adjust profit targets? Use trailing stops?
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Will I practice staying calm when unrealized profits fluctuate?
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What specific strategy or habit will I implement starting now?
The more detailed you are, the more progress you’ll make.
⚠️ Did You Follow Your Trading Plan?
This is the most important question of all.
Did you execute your trade according to your plan?
If not, you’ve either got:
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A discipline problem, or
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A broken trading plan.
Either way, it’s a red flag that needs to be fixed ASAP. Like, yesterday.