Before the trade
Record the setup, important level, trigger, invalidation, intended risk, and what would make you pass.
During the trade
Note material changes: an add, trim, thesis change, or decision that did not follow the original plan.
After the trade
Record the outcome, but grade the process separately. A winning trade can be poorly executed, and a losing trade can follow the plan.
Intermediate takeaway
Keep the journal consistent enough to reveal patterns. It should support your review, not pretend to validate a trade for you.