“I am 90 per cent healthy, I feel”, said Rita to her nutritionist. However, her nutritionist just smirked. When she asked her the reason, she revealed that almost all her clients believe this until she studies their habits. Next, the nutritionist studied Rita’s routine. Rita was utterly shocked when she realised that she was just 50% healthy. Her nutritionist, “You’re at least 50% healthy. Most of my clients are just 10% healthy.
Rita asked, “How to get to that 90% healthy mark? I am doing everything that I should. Sugar is off my diet. I do not have fried foods and eat at home most days.” Her nutritionist retorted, “Let’s keep a track of your diet from today onwards with a Daily health tracker journal.” Things changed for Rita when she wrote down all that she ate throughout the day. Her nutritionist informed her that her diet was lacking in adequate water, fibre, and protein.
Start a Health Journal today
Regardless of avoiding all the wrong foods in our diet, we are unable to lose weight or get fit within the time that we want to. Often, the reason is not eating the food that our body needs to speed up the metabolism. We have seamlessly integrated technology into our routines, yet we are unable to carve out time for our health.
Our lives have become busier, and our memories shorter. Instead of relying on our memories to track our health, we should maintain a health journal. These journals help us stay on track with our health.
How Health and Habits are correlated
Believe it or not, there is a relation between our habits and the way we feel, either emotionally or physically. The best way to understand our health-related habits is to start a daily wellness journal or health journal. As we note down our routine, we realise the things that are going wrong and things that could be improved to stay healthy.
The best part of such journals is that you need not be a super writer. It doesn’t matter whether your handwriting is good or bad. The journal remains personal, and you need not show it to others.
You might like reading –
Why start a Health Journal?
Many people have a habit of maintaining diaries. These diaries help them sort out their lives and keep a track of all the things that they do, enjoy, or miss. Experts believe that maintaining a daily diary keeps a person happy. It helps the brain in regulating emotions. Similarly, keeping a health journal helps the brain regulate the different things that our body consumes – be it food, water, or screen time.
Mental Health Log
Experts have been stressing on improved Mental Health in the present times. Maintaining a health journal lets you know the stressors that affect your peace and calm. You would be surprised to know that the number of hours you clock in on social media scrolling posts and reels might be one of the stressors in your routine. Keep a track of how much time you spend on social media, and you might be able to put your screen time in order. Other benefits are –
Reduced Overthinking – As technology takes care of our repetitive tasks, the task of our mind to make decisions during that time is reduced. This makes us overthink something and disturb our peace. When you keep a log, your chances of thinking about redundant things are reduced considerably.
Increased Awareness – Health Journaling is a reflection of your routine thoughts, feelings, and all that your body consumes. Understand yourself better by keeping a daily log.
Good Mood – Process your emotions by understanding the triggers and stressors that affect your mental health. A health log helps reduce conditions of anxiety and stress and contributes to a good mood.
Physical Health Log
As the world gets smaller, we have the benefit of trying cuisines and health fads from different countries. However, not all foods are meant for our palate or the climate we reside in. Similarly, not all health fads are something that will benefit us in our wellness journey. Hence, keep a health log and understand what has been working for you and what hasn’t. Health journals can help you seek professional help and explain your condition in the best possible manner.
Track Progress – Your health log is a key to unlock your progress on your fitness goals, dietary habits, and many other things that you might miss out on in the chaos of the routine.
Recognise Pattern – Being humans, we have a habit of repeating our acts, either knowingly or unknowingly. We know these acts as habits. A log helps you spot your wrong habits and correct them.
Better Sleep – Keep a log of your sleep patterns, and you might recognise what disturbs your peaceful sleep. You will be able to work on it.
How to begin writing a Health Journal
Every person has a unique take on a health journal. The thing that I want to track might not be a necessary thing for you to keep a log about. Hence, every person has a unique way to maintain a health log or wellness journal or health journal. There is no correct manner for the same. While maintaining a health journal, make sure that it is doable. Complex things are often left midway.
What to write – Begin by deciding on the things that you want to put in the journal. For example, you can keep a track of your sugar intake, water intake, time of food intake, sleeping duration, screen time, stressors, etc. Some people even track their medications, their benefits, daily steps that they walk, mood swings, and even dreams.
Keep it Simple – If you are new to maintaining a diary or a health journal, keep it simple in the beginning. This will motivate you to write every day. You might want to begin with just 1 or 2 things to focus on. It is much easier this way. If you take too much on your plate on the first day itself, you might get bored by the end of the week.
How to keep up the habit of Health Journaling
I have had a pattern when it comes to maintaining a diary. It goes like this – I buy a new diary, fill up the first few pages, I misplace my diary, and I forget all about it. If you have a similar pattern, then try these few tips that have helped me continue the habit of health journaling.
I always keep this journal in my living room with a bookmark and a handy pen. Every time I am in the living room, the journal persuades me to write something in it.
I have a fixed time to log in the details in the journal – It’s after dinner and before screen time. So, I have told myself that I will win screen time only if I log in the health journal.
I read the previous day’s entries in the journal in the morning, just before I check the headlines in the newspaper. This helps me understand the patterns, if there are any.
How Zoomin Health Journal is different
I was combing the internet to find a perfect health journal. I stumbled upon Health Journal on Zoomin. This journal is contemporary and interesting. There are so many things I liked about it that I will list them here.
Colour – The first thing that attracted me and continues to do so is the colour. The cover page is blue. There’s a short quote on it. The insides are vibrant and interactive.
Stickers – The journal comes loaded with stickers that I can use to make my daily log interesting
Sections – There are many sections in this journal covering both physical and mental health. It is interesting to keep a tap on all the aspects of our routine.
12 Interesting Segments of the Zoomin Health Journal
- Date – You need to write in the journal daily. Do not miss a single day.
2. Affirmation – A positive, actionable thought about the day
3. Looking forward to – Find something that you look forward to during the day
4. Family / Offline Activity – While working on the screen, we often forget things that matter off-screen. This segment is a gentle reminder.
5. Sleep Quality – No need to write anything here. You just need to tick or circle any of the three options – Poor, Moderate, or Superb. You also need to mention any stress creators that are disturbing your peace. To counter the stress creators, you need to write the stress busters so you can learn to use them.
6. Remember to – You can jot down your to-dos in this segment. It is big enough to fit all the points on your list.
7. What could’ve been better today – If something has gone wrong or you are feeling a pang of guilt, you can try to do things differently next time by writing it down here.
8. Screen Time – There are four options given. You just need to tick any one of these – minimal, less, moderate, more, and excess.
9. Water Intake – You just need to note down whether it was adequate or not by colouring the droplets, wherein 1 stands for less and 5 stands for adequate.
10. Physical Activity/Exercise – Similar to water intake, you need to colour the stars given to indicate the exercise done. Here, 1 star stands for less and 5 for adequate.
11. Mood Today – Often, we do not realise the kind of mood we are in today. This journal will help us take stock of our mood by colouring the circles. If you are in a bad mood, colour 1 circle, a regular mood needs you to colour in 2-4, and if you colour in 5 circles, you are in an extremely good mood.
12. Grateful for – You need to jot down 3 things every day for which you are grateful. This will help you take control of your emotions. You will learn to appreciate things that you took for granted.
How Zoomin Health Journal transformed my life
How Zoomin Health Journal transformed my life
Zoomin is a beautiful website with a range of products that can be personalised, used, and gifted. Every product listed here is creative and different from the ordinary. The health journal I bought can be customised with my name, but I like an unnamed one. There has been a lot of thought and creativity invested in designing the products.
As I write in the journal at the end of the day, I feel relieved and balanced, somehow. I feel the presence of the universe that decides the course of my life. As each day unfolds, I realise I am getting happier and satisfied with my life. There is a unique feeling about owning objects that are designed with a pure intention. This journal is one of them. It reminds me to bring intention into my life.
Harry Potter Themed Bottle
I got the bottle personalised for my daughter. She loves Harry Potter and all things magical. The beauty of the bottle is that it does not scream Harry Potter, but mentions it subtly. It is not just about hydration; it is about identity.
My daughter is a storyteller. This bottle will give her a conversation starter. The handle of the bottle makes it easier to tag it along to all the classes she goes. I have an inkling that this bottle is the beginning of something a little more beautiful.
Final Thoughts
Health Journaling with pre-written prompts are making it easier for people like us. I am one of those who love to write about my day. However, the problem is that I do not have the energy or the intention to write as I wrap up my day. With the prompts, it becomes quite easier. Journaling about my water intake, exercise, screen-time, to-dos, gives me a better sleep as I do not take any burden with me to my bed. When are you beginning this journal? I am here to assist you in any way possible. Happy journaling!
Leave a Reply