How do I use Notion as a trading journal?

Use a structured Trades database for consistent fields (instrument, date, position, risk, R:R, commissions, net P&L) and a review section for notes/screenshots. Then run a weekly review using the same filters and tags.

Is Notion good for journaling futures or forex trades?

Notion is excellent for structured reviews, notes, and screenshots. For heavy analytics (expectancy, profit factor, drawdown, advanced filtering), dedicated journal software is faster and more reliable than manual workflows.

Can I add a P&L chart to a Notion trading journal?

Yes. You can embed a chart from a Notion chart tool by connecting your Trades database and mapping Trade Date to the X-axis and Net P&L to the Y-axis, then embedding the generated link in your Notion page.

When should I switch from Notion to a trading journal app?

Switch when manual entry and spreadsheet-style maintenance slows your reviews, or when you need automated analytics (profit factor, expectancy, drawdown), deeper filtering, and consistent performance reporting.

Notion Trading Journal Template (ProfitPulse)

Q: What should I track in a Notion trading journal template?

At minimum: instrument, account, trade date/time, direction, entry/stop/target, position size, risk %, commissions, gross and net P&L, R:R, outcome, strategy/setup, and a short post-trade review.

What’s inside this Notion trading journal template

This template is designed around two core databases - Accounts and Trades - so you can log trades consistently and review performance without reinventing your system every week.

Accounts dashboard

• Track multiple accounts (live + paper).
• Keep a static starting balance and update as needed.
• Use one place to manage your “source of truth” for accounts.

Trades database

• Instrument + account + session context.
• Risk %, gross R:R, commissions, gross & net P&L.
• Outcome, position (long/short), strategy, and review notes.
• Room for screenshots inside each trade page.

Optional: add a net P&L line chart

If you want a quick visual equity curve, you can embed a chart using a Notion chart tool by mapping Trade Date (X-axis) to Net P&L (Y-axis). See the “Add a P&L chart” section below.

Set up your Notion trading journal in 5 minutes

The goal is speed + consistency: duplicate, clean up placeholders, then log trades with the same fields every time.

1

Duplicate the template into your workspace

Open the template and click Duplicate. Rename it to match your account or strategy focus (e.g., “Futures Journal - ES/NQ”).
2

Configure Accounts

Add your live/paper accounts and set your starting balance. Delete placeholder accounts you won’t use.
3

Delete sample trades

Select example rows in the Trades database and delete them so your journal starts clean.
4

Log trades consistently

Create a new trade entry and fill core fields (risk, R:R, commissions, net P&L). Consistency beats detail.

Duplicate in Notion Back to Templates Hub

How to journal trades in Notion (the right way)

Notion journals fail when traders treat them like random notes. Use repeatable fields so you can actually review patterns.

Core fields you should fill every trade

• Instrument

• Account

• Trade Date

• Position (Long/Short)

• Entry / Stop / Target

• Position Size

• Risk (%)

• Gross R:R

• Commissions

• Gross P&L

• Net P&L

• Outcome + Strategy

Pro review habit

Add a short summary in the trade page: Why you took it, what you executed well, what you’ll change next time. Attach screenshots if you use them.

Make it futures-ready

If you trade futures (ES/NQ/micros), add a couple of fields so your journal matches reality:

• Contract (ES, NQ, MES, MNQ)
• Tick value or $/point
• Slippage notes (if relevant)
• Session (London/NY/RTH/ETH)

Want automated futures analytics?

Add a net P&L chart to your Notion trading journal

Notion doesn’t natively chart databases the way traders want. The simplest workaround is to use a Notion chart tool, generate an embed, then paste it into your template.

Option A: Notion2Charts-style workflow

Connect your Notion workspace to a chart tool.
Select the Trades database.
X-axis: Trade Date
Y-axis: Net P&L
Group by week (optional), sort by date ascending.
Generate embed link and paste into Notion as an embed.

Option B: Embed URL placeholder

Your template includes an embed placeholder area. Replace it with the chart tool’s embed URL, then select “Embed” in Notion.

https://www.chartbase.so/embed/...

Tip: Once embedded, turn on dark mode in the chart tool for a cleaner dashboard look.

Notion is great for review - but it has limits

Notion is perfect when you want a clean system for notes, screenshots, and a consistent trade log. But if your goal is deeper analytics and faster performance review, manual tools eventually become a bottleneck.

Common Notion journaling problems

• Manual entry makes you skip fields over time.
• Hard to maintain consistent analytics across months.
• Advanced metrics require fragile formulas.
• Filtering “what actually works” becomes slow.

Upgrade path: automated analytics with ProfitPulse

If you want a professional journal built around performance metrics (not manual maintenance), ProfitPulse is designed for traders who treat their capital like a business.

Launch ProfitPulse View Pricing

Usage & license

This template is provided for personal use. Please don’t redistribute, resell, or republish it (or derivatives) as your own.

Notion trading journal template FAQ

How do I journal trades on Notion?

Use a Trades database with consistent fields (instrument, trade date, direction, risk, R:R, commissions, net P&L), then add a short post-trade review and screenshots inside each trade page.

What should a Notion trading journal include?

At minimum: instrument, account, entry/stop/target, position size, risk %, commissions, gross/net P&L, R:R, outcome, and strategy/setup. Without consistent risk + net P&L, your review becomes guesswork.

Can I use this Notion template for futures?

Yes. Add fields like contract (ES/NQ/MES/MNQ), tick value, and session. Futures journaling works best when you track costs (commissions/slippage) and review performance by session and setup.

Is Notion good for deep trading analytics?

Notion is excellent for structure and review, but it’s not ideal for heavy analytics. If you want automated metrics, faster filtering, and consistent reporting, a dedicated journal app will save you time and improve review quality.

How do I add a P&L chart in Notion?

Use a Notion chart tool to connect your Trades database, map Trade Date (X-axis) and Net P&L (Y-axis), then paste the embed link into your Notion page where the placeholder embed is located.

Related templates

Excel template

Spreadsheet format for traders who want full control.

Google Sheets

Cloud-based journaling you can access anywhere.

Futures template

Futures-ready fields for serious performance review.

Next steps: trading journal app • trading journal software • templates hub