{"id":4684,"date":"2021-03-04T16:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-03-04T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/witanddelight.com\/?p=87688"},"modified":"2021-03-04T16:00:00","modified_gmt":"2021-03-04T16:00:00","slug":"the-benefits-of-tracking-your-mood-each-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ozapp.com.au\/?p=4684","title":{"rendered":"The Benefits of Tracking Your Mood Each Day"},"content":{"rendered":"

How are you feeling today? No, really. I\u2019m asking in all seriousness.<\/p>\n

You could answer truthfully (perhaps that\u2019s unlikely), or give me a classic \u201cFine, thanks.\u201d Regardless, I won\u2019t make you respond\u2026yet. I will, however, tell you how I\u2019m<\/em> feeling today: \u201cOkay.\u201d Like the straight-faced emoji or, even better, the upside-down smiley face.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve been tracking my mood daily, first via app and then via good old paper and pencil. While I wouldn\u2019t go so far as to say the experience has made me a happier person overall (we\u2019re all allowed bad days), I do think it has allowed me to reevaluate how I deal with my emotions and why exactly I may feel the way I do in certain situations. <\/p>\n

Outside of my personal experience, research has found<\/a> that mood tracking can \u201cincrease people\u2019s awareness and proactive self-regulation of their emotional well-being.\u201d<\/p>\n

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While I wouldn\u2019t go so far as to say the experience has made me a happier person overall (we\u2019re all allowed bad days), I do think it has allowed me to reevaluate how I deal with my emotions and why exactly I may feel the way I do in certain situations. <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

According to the study, maintaining a positive mood has a whole bunch of great side-effects, such as enhancing cardiovascular, hormonal, and immune functions, promoting better sleep and exercise, and encouraging open-minded thinking and effective problem-solving.<\/p>\n

When it comes to mood tracking, the key is in figuring out why exactly you feel the way you do. I\u2019m no scientist, but I\u2019d like to think that the better you become at catching the things that make you feel \u201cbad\u201d before they have the chance to affect you, the more \u201cgood\u201d there may be. And from that, the aforementioned magic will abound. It should be said that this practice is not specifically intended to cure anxiety or depression, but rather something that can help you become aware of how you\u2019re feeling each day and what may be causing those feelings.<\/p>\n

Here are some of the personal benefits I\u2019ve discovered when it comes to daily mood tracking. Read on, then ask yourself, truthfully, how you are. In my own practice, I\u2019ve learned I like to track my mood in my regular journal\u2014a quick assessment of my feelings using as many big words as I can muster paired with a bit of reflection on what led me to feel that way\u2014but everyone can find a process that works for them. You can find some tips on how to start mood tracking here<\/a>. Emoji analysis is not required but highly encouraged.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a low-pressure activity.<\/strong><\/h2>\n

While I\u2019m a huge proponent of gratitude journaling<\/a>, mood tracking is nice because\u2026sometimes you don\u2019t feel like being positive! Besides bitter honesty, mood tracking doesn\u2019t expect anything of you. If you\u2019re feeling angry you can leave it at that\u2014no forced positive spin necessary. <\/p>\n

At the same time, if you\u2019d like to dig a little deeper into what\u2019s making<\/em> you angry, that\u2019s allowed (and encouraged) too. There are no set rules and no wrong answers.<\/p>\n

It offers a (simple) path to self-understanding.<\/strong><\/h2>\n

I\u2019ve tried many mood tracking apps. In my opinion, the best ones are those that (if you so choose to engage) push you a bit, asking what led to your reported excitement or nonchalance. They\u2019ll give you some easy answers so you don\u2019t have to think too hard\u2014exercise, friends, work, etc.\u2014then ask you to think about how you can deal with the same situation in the future. <\/p>\n

This reminds me of journaling when I was little. \u201cI\u2019m mad at my mom because she didn\u2019t let me get highlights.\u201d etc, etc. Oftentimes the why is as important as the what. You\u2019re actually angry because you lack autonomy and don\u2019t look like Lizzie McGuire, little me. Your emotions are valid, but it\u2019s not mom\u2019s fault.<\/p>\n

It enables you to acknowledge triggers.<\/strong><\/h2>\n

You can use mood tracking to identify your personal emotional triggers and use that knowledge to your advantage. If you notice you\u2019re in a bad mood on Wednesdays in particular, think about why this might be. A particular weekly work meeting? The one night a week that you don\u2019t have a show to watch? Identify the problem and pre-plan a way to turn the mood around<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It helps you expand your emotional vocabulary.<\/strong><\/h2>\n

I, for one, find comfort in knowing there are many emotions open to me. You don\u2019t have to feel \u201cgood\u201d or \u201cbad.\u201d You can feel a little bit of both, with more specific options such as content, carefree, exuberant, grouchy, disagreeable, and frenzied available to you as well.<\/p>\n

It encourages healthy communication.<\/strong><\/h2>\n

It\u2019s more productive to tell your boyfriend \u201cI\u2019m feeling a bit despondent because of my current workload\u201d when he asks what\u2019s wrong than it is to say \u201cnothing\u201d and hope he\u2019ll know how to help you anyway. Probably. I\u2019m still learning.<\/p>\n

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