Traderflux

Post-trade breakdowns

Learn From Real Trades and Real Mistakes

Most traders focus on finding the next setup, but real growth comes from looking back. A post-trade breakdown is a structured review of what happened in a trade—both good and bad. By analyzing trades after they close, you turn experience into data and mistakes into lessons.


1. Record the Basics

Every breakdown starts with the trade details. Without accurate records, it’s easy to rely on memory, which is often biased.

  • Entry and exit points
  • Position size and risk taken
  • Reason for entering the trade

This creates a factual base before moving to analysis.


2. Review the Market Context

A trade doesn’t happen in isolation. Understanding the bigger picture helps reveal if your decision fit the market environment.

  • What was the trend at the time?
  • Were there major news events or volatility?
  • Did your trade align with higher-timeframe direction?

3. Assess Execution

Good setups can fail if execution is poor. Reviewing how well you followed your plan matters as much as the result.

  • Did you follow your entry rules?
  • Was the stop loss placed correctly?
  • Did you exit based on rules or emotions?

4. Identify Mistakes

Mistakes are valuable if you track them clearly. Over time, patterns emerge that you can correct.

  • Entering too early or too late
  • Moving stops out of fear
  • Exiting from impatience or greed

The goal isn’t to avoid all mistakes immediately, but to reduce how often they repeat.


5. Note Improvements

Each breakdown should end with a takeaway. Ask: What will I do differently next time?

  • Adjust rules if needed
  • Add a reminder for recurring errors
  • Keep a short list of personal lessons

Closing Thoughts

Post-trade breakdowns may not feel exciting, but they are one of the fastest ways to improve. By turning trades into data and lessons, you build a process that gets sharper over time. The market will always give feedback—but only if you take the time to listen.