A review cadence is a fixed schedule for logging and reviewing trades, such as logging each trade and reviewing weekly or monthly. It makes the review part of the loop a reliable step rather than an occasional activity.
How it works
A cadence fixes when review happens, so it does not depend on motivation or on the market having just done something memorable.
It combines with a trading journal: the journal records, the cadence schedules when the records are reviewed for patterns.
Why it matters
A review that only happens after a bad week is biased by that week. A fixed cadence reviews good stretches and bad ones the same way.
Without a cadence, the review step of the decision loop is unreliable, and the loop cannot learn consistently.
A simple market example
A trader logs every trade and reviews the week every Saturday, and reviews the full month monthly. The cadence is fixed, so review happens whether the week was good or bad.
Common mistakes
Reviewing only after losses, which makes the review a reaction instead of a process.
Having no schedule, so the review step of the loop happens only when motivation appears.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I review?
There is no universal cadence. What matters is that it is fixed and that it covers enough trades to see patterns.
Is a cadence the same as a journal?
The journal is the record; the cadence is the schedule that determines when the record is reviewed.
What if I have nothing interesting to review?
Review anyway. Consistent review of quiet periods is what makes a pattern visible when it appears.
Educational content only. Definitions describe common market usage and may vary by jurisdiction, instrument, or institution.