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Hello World!  Do you ever have mood swings? I know I do and I never thought to track them. This is interesting and I’d appreciate your leaving me feedback to tell me what you think…

Reasons to Track Your Mood and How to Do It

Being in a bad mood is the worst fo you, isn’t it? In sharp contrast to

those days where you’re on top of the world, finding yourself in a funk can really take the wind out of your sails. And it’s made that much worse if you’re not exactly sure what caused your funk in the first place.

You know what I mean, right? If you get in a spat with your spouse it’s natural to feel angry or down in the dumps. You might not like it, but at least you get why you’re feeling the way you’re feeling. But what if you’re in a bad mood for no obvious reason?

Why Track Your Mood?

Things like a healthy diet and your getting regular exercise play a substantial role in your overall well being, but keeping tabs on how you’re feeling can be equally beneficial for your mental, emotional and physical health. Identifying your triggers that affect your mood will make you happier, help you sleep better and allow you to show up fully in your relationships.

1. Cope With Depression

If you’re depressed, tracking your mood can help you see if skipping your

Prozac in favor of a more natural approach is actually working for you. Armed with this information, you’ll be able to work more closely with your doctor to decide on your best course of action moving forward.

2. Reduce Stress and Anxiety

According to the University of Rochester Medical Center, keeping a journal can help you identify what’s causing you to feel stressed or anxious. Becoming clear on what your stressors are will help you figure out a workable plan to manage things, which in turn, reduces your stress and anxiety.

3. Strategize Wellness

We’re all looking to make positive improvements that will allow us to live our best life. But how will we know if what we’re doing is actually making a difference? In his interview with Psychcentral.com, James Bishop explains how a mood diary can show you the impact of the positive strategies that you adopt for your well being.

4. Manage Illness

Whether you’ve been diagnosed with an illness such as bipolar disorder or

are simply trying to manage your out of control PMS, keeping track of your moods is a great way to figure out what makes you feel better and what’s likely to send you over the edge.

5. Improve Happiness

Even if you aren’t depressed or dealing with an illness, keeping track of

your moods over a prolonged period of time can have a positive effect on your happiness levels. You’ll become more aware of your feelings and more specifically, the people or situations around you that cause them. When you know who and what lifts you up and brings you down, you’ll be in a position to make better choices in your future.

How to Track Your Mood

There are plenty of ways to keep track of your mental health, the key is in finding one that resonates with your personality. If you’re old school, for example, using an app is not the way to go. To ensure success it’s imperative that you’re invested in your tracking method of choice.

Journaling

Journaling offers many (often surprising) benefits. In addition to sparking

your creativity and improving your communication skills, it can also provide a path to your healing. Whether you opt for a simple notebook or an elaborate Bullet Journal is entirely up to you.

If you’re at all crafty (as in, you like to make stuff, not be sneaky), then you’ll likely find using a bullet journal to track your mental health a more appealing option. I’d add a word of caution, however. While lots of fun, it’s easy to get caught up in the creation process. Keep in mind that your ultimate goal is to track your mood.

Apps

If you have your feet firmly planted in the 21st century, you’re going to

want an app rather than something clunky like an actual book and pen. In their review of the best bipolar disorder apps of 2017, Healthline identified a number of mood tracking tools based on their quality, user reviews and overall reliability.

Momento is a smart private journal that allows you to capture your daily activities, thoughts and experiences. The app also collects and organizes your activity online, which provides additional insight into your moods over a period of time. Currently available on iPhone only. Cost: Free

Compatible with Android and iPhone, iMoodJournal allows you to keep track of everything from your sleep patterns and energy levels to how stressed you are. The app also reminds you when it’s time to check in with yourself. Cost: $1.99

eMoods, also compatible with both Android and iPhone, offers a simple and straightforward solution to tracking your moods. Using a color-coded approach, you select your mood each day at a predetermined time. These are documented in your monthly calendar, allowing you to view your trends over time. If you’re working closely with a doctor or health practitioner, the app gives you the option to email your results at the end of each month. Cost: Free

Though technically not a mood tracker, BrainwaveTuner bears mentioning. The app focuses on brain wave stimulation, making use of binaural beats to bring about a desired state e.g. calm or attentive. Preset sound patterns can help you with everything from headaches and sleeping to meditation and self-hypnosis. All in all, a useful complement to your mood tracker of choice. Cost: iPhone $3.99 and free on Android

Wearables

Wearables refer to devices that are worn on your body with the specific purpose of collecting or displaying data. These include things like smart-watches, EEG monitors and so on. If you’re the gadget type, this will probably appeal to you.

According to Psyberguide.org, there are a number of new technologies available that may have applications in mental health. My personal favorite is pplkpr, a smartphone app combined with a wristband that tells you which relationships with other people are your most positive.

Again, not specifically a mood tracker, but worth considering nonetheless. Who knows, maybe your mood dips are related to the company you keep. Currently available on iPhone only. The app is free, you just need to buy a compatible wristband.

Gut Instinct

We live in an age where there’s a tool or an app for everything you want to track. We can train our brains, hone our kindness muscle and improve our memory. But as much as these modalities have their place, it’s important not to let them consume you. Remember to leave some room for your gut instinct as well. When we allow ourselves the space to tap into it, our intuition can speak volumes. It’s very often the best mood tracker we have.

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I find this to be great information. I’m not big on apps as I’m one of the dinosaurs that still has a flip phone. No smart phone here yet. What do you think of this?

Have a great day!

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