Framework
Rule -> Trigger -> Violation -> Cost -> Review -> Adjustment
A rule becomes measurable when each break is tied to a context. Was the trigger a loss, missed move, fatigue, daily stop, or planned-session boundary?
- Write the rule clearly
- Label the trigger honestly
- Review the P&L or R cost
Common triggers
The same rule may break under the same pressure.
FOMO, loss chasing, increasing size, decision fatigue, and continuing after a daily stop can all create repeated rule breaks that feel different in real time.
- Trading outside planned hours
- Increasing size after frustration
- Entering without the planned setup
Journal review
The goal is not shame. The goal is pattern recognition.
A good trading journal helps you see whether rule breaks cluster in specific windows, after specific outcomes, or when confidence and emotion labels change.
- Measure recurring patterns
- Separate strategy issues from behavior issues
- Create one adjustment for the next session