Classify recurring mistakes into evidence, execution, risk, emotional and review errors so improvement becomes measurable.
Use note
This worksheet is an educational process-control template. It does not produce signals, recommendations or guaranteed outcomes. Record real decisions honestly; do not rewrite the journal after the result is known.
Purpose
To identify patterns across many trades instead of treating every mistake as unique. Recurring errors need rules, not motivation.
Best used when
- Weekly review
- After rule break
- After repeated small losses
- After overtrading
Core fields
- Mistake category
- Trigger situation
- VSA evidence ignored
- Rule broken
- Cost in risk units
- Prevention rule
- Next review date
Worksheet checklist
Questions to answer before the decision is accepted
Workflow
Step-by-step use
- 1
Record the mistake without excuse.
- 2
Classify the category.
- 3
Identify the trigger situation.
- 4
Estimate the cost in risk units.
- 5
Write one prevention rule.
- 6
Review whether the rule worked after one week.
Scoring rubric
- 5 = repeated mistakes identified with prevention rules
- 3 = mistakes recorded but prevention vague
- 1 = self-criticism without system change
Red flags
- Creating too many categories
- Blaming the market instead of identifying behaviour
- Ignoring small repeated leaks
- Using shame instead of a rule
Practice task
Group the last month of mistakes into categories and choose the one category that costs the most risk units.
Printable worksheet
Use this area for your own notes
Related playbooks
Related lessons
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Source notes
These sources inform the vocabulary, process framing, and risk discipline. The worksheet itself is an educational journaling tool, not financial advice.
- Wyckoff Method — market context and cause/effect disciplineExternal source
- FINRA — investment risk and order considerationsExternal source
- Investor.gov — order execution basicsExternal source