How You Can Benefit From a Health Journal

By Donna Stark

If you are looking to improve your overall wellness and aren't sure where to start, a health journal may be the best tool you can use. A daily health journal can help you keep track of your food intake, water consumption, hours of sleep, and activity levels. It's also the perfect place to take notes on how you feel every day and if you aren't feeling well, what symptoms you are experiencing. But the biggest benefit that comes from keeping a health journal is that you won't have to rely on your memory anymore.

Why Journal?

How many times have you racked your brain trying to remember a certain piece of information or symptom during a visit to your doctor? And have you ever caught yourself saying, "I wish I had written it down"? Well, there is no need for wishes anymore! With a health journal, you can keep track of all the important information related to your overall well-being. Here are a few reasons why that could help you down the road.

• Identify allergy triggers - Keeping track of what you eat and how you feel afterward is a great step toward identifying foods that cause allergies. You can also use the journal to help identify your reaction to outdoor allergens in the same way.
• Identify unhealthy sleep patterns - Establishing a consistent bedtime routine is important for your overall health but can be difficult if you can't remember what your sleep schedule looks like from one day to the next. Taking note of your nightly habits and how much sleep you get can get you on the right path here.
• Identify bad habits - Are you the type of person that needs to see something written down on paper before you actually believe it? It all comes down to the fact that you can't change what you don't acknowledge, and this is where a health journal shines!
• Identify medication side effects - It can be hard to tell if what you are feeling is because you are sick or if it is a side effect from the medication you are prescribed. Keeping detailed notes on how you feel after every dose may help you and your doctor connect those dots.

Don't Be Overwhelmed

The more information you keep track of, the better-informed everyone will be, but don't overwhelm yourself in the process! Start with the most important factors you would like to monitor and go from there. It doesn't take long to figure out what needs your attention and what doesn't. And if you need advice on what to include, just ask your doctor!

To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Loganville, Ga.