Journal tags for "skipped due to wide spread": why they help discipline

[FXS London Scalper]

Most journals record trades taken. Recording trades skipped, with the reason, adds a layer that often reveals more about discipline.

A simple tag: "SKIP-SPREAD". Every time a valid setup appears but spread is above your threshold, log it with the time, pair and spread.

Why it helps:

1. Visibility. You can see how often the filter activates and at what times. If it triggers mostly at 08:00, maybe your entry window should start at 08:05.

2. Validation. Later, check what those skipped trades would have done. If they mostly lose (as is common when spreads are wide), the filter is earning its place.

3. Discipline reinforcement. Logging a skip is an active decision, not a missed opportunity. It turns "I didn't trade" into "I followed the rule".

4. Broker monitoring. A sudden increase in spread skips might indicate a change in your broker's pricing.

Other useful skip tags: SKIP-NEWS, SKIP-LIMIT (trade count reached), SKIP-TILT.

Does anyone track skipped setups systematically? What did you learn?