### Comment:
I thought it was dumb, but better traders kept insisting it's importance. Once I started, my portfolio started producing better results. The most difficult part is adhering to my notes, because 90% of the time I make a bad trade it's because I started trading off book, 'free wheeling' it.

### REPLY:
Same thing happens to me! After writing in my journal for the first 6 months I spent a couple days evaluating my performance and looking at habits. Sure enough I realized I was a better short term trader, had grotesque week hands and several other deficiencies. Understanding this and with the 6 months worth of data, I developed a method of rules I had to follow. The hardest part thus far is not letting emotion overcome these rules. If I follow my rules I most often do well.

### END.