You analyze your trading journal by calculating core metrics first (win rate, profit factor, expectancy, average win versus average loss), then filtering trades to find patterns in your performance. Group trades by time of day to see if certain market sessions affect performance, separate trades by market conditions (trending versus range-bound), and break down results by strategy type to pinpoint which setups are working and which aren't.
Rate each trade on execution quality on a 1 to 5 scale across entry timing, stop loss placement, position sizing, exit execution, and adherence to your plan.
Aim for at least 30 to 50 trades per setup or strategy before making adjustments.