20 Questions to Ask Yourself After Every Trading Week

Every trade carries a lesson. This article is designed to help you build a habit of self-review, so you can spot patterns, correct mistakes, and grow as a trader. At the end, there’s a ready-to-save version, so you can revisit it each week and track your progress.

Emotional check-in

1. What emotions came up before most trades?
   Trading brings all sorts of feelings, including fear, hope, and overconfidence. It happens to everyone. Try jotting down how you felt before each trade. Did fear make you hesitate? Did overconfidence push you in too early? Noticing this in real time helps you catch yourself next time.

2. Did I feel FOMO before entering a trade?
   We all chase trades sometimes. Maybe the price moved too fast, someone sent a hot tip, or you missed an earlier move. Pause and ask yourself why you jumped in. Spotting these triggers makes it easier to trade with a clear mind next time.

3. Did I overtrade after a loss or a win?
   t’s tempting to try to “get it back” after a loss or ride the high after a win. Examine whether these trades were backed by a clear plan, or just emotions. Identifying the pattern helps prevent impulsive streaks and protects your capital.

4. Which trade made me feel the worst and why?
   Don’t just name the trade. Was it a rule you broke, a missed profit, or an emotional reaction? Understanding the source of discomfort shows where discipline slipped and where improvement can have the most impact.

5. Did I feel calm and focused before clicking Buy or Sell?
   Some days you’re centered, others you’re anxious or rushed. Note your mental state and what was running through your mind. Awareness of your emotional state helps you create conditions for better focus and execution next week.

Strategy & discipline

1. How many trades were part of a planned setup?
   Trading without a plan leads to inconsistency. Count how many trades were genuinely planned versus reactive. This reflection helps you see whether you’re following your strategy, or just responding to market noise.

2. How often did I skip confirmation signals?
   Skipping confirmation often comes from impatience or self-doubt. Review each skipped signal. Did it cost you a better setup or protect you from a loss? Tracking this builds awareness of your discipline under pressure.

3. Did I enter at my levels or did I chase moves?
   Chasing is a common mistake that often leads to poor entries and bad risk-to-reward. Ask yourself whether each trade aligned with your planned levels, and consider the consequences of chasing. This helps reinforce disciplined, strategy-driven trading.

4. Did I stick to my trading hours and rules?
   Discipline is more than following setups, it’s also trading at the right time and under the right conditions. Review any deviations and their impact. This insight can help you avoid fatigue-driven or emotionally charged trades.

5. How many trades would I take again if I could redo the week?
   If it’s only a few, it means most of your trades were impulsive or questionable. Reflect on why — was it poor planning, emotion, or unclear rules? The goal is to make trades you can defend and feel confident about.

Risk & money management

1. Was I controlling my risks?
   Did you stick to your 1–2% rule, or did emotions push your risk higher? Review any breaches and note the triggers. Maintaining consistent risk management protects both capital and confidence.

2. What was my worst position-sizing mistake?
   Identify trades where lot sizes didn’t match your stop-loss or plan. Understanding these errors helps prevent repeating them and strengthens your overall risk strategy.

3. How many times did I move my stop-loss?
   Every adjustment matters. Was it a tactical move, or fear-driven? Noting these instances helps you understand when emotions override discipline and guides better planning next week.

4. Did I track risk-to-reward on each trade?
   Risk-to-reward should guide every entry. If you skipped it, reflect on how you assessed trade viability. Incorporating R/R into your process keeps trades structured and decisions objective.

5. Did I take profits too early or too late?
   Exits often reveal emotional triggers. Consider whether fear or hope dictated your exit decisions. Reflecting here improves your timing and prevents repeating emotional exits.

Repeated mistakes

1. Which mistakes kept repeating?
   A mistake that happens more than once is a habit. Review your journal and note any patterns. Identifying habits is the first step toward fixing them.

2. Did I ignore lessons I’ve already learned?
   Everyone slips up, but repeating known mistakes signals areas that need focus. Reflect on why lessons were ignored and plan concrete adjustments.

3. Did outside noise influence my trades?
   Signals, chat groups, or news can sway your decisions. Identify which trades were affected and the cost. Awareness of external influence helps you with independent decision-making.

Growth & takeaways

1. What did I learn this week about the market or myself?
   Trading is live practice combined with self-study. Note one or two lessons about strategy, mindset, or market behavior. This reflection turns experience into growth.

2. What will I do differently next week?
   Thinking about your week only helps if you actually change something. Pick one thing: a habit, a small rule, a mindset, and try to apply it next week. Even small changes add up if you implement them consistently.

Save this checklist and come back every Friday.

No trades this week? Open an FBS Demo account and gain experience, so next week, you’ll have something to review.