How to use a Mood Tracker

You might have heard the term “mood tracker” before. Whether it’s from colleagues, friends or anyone active in the mental health space. In this article we will explain what a mood tracker is, and why you should use one.

What is a Mood Tracker

A mood tracker is an analog or digital system used to register how you feel. This can be anything ranging from a calendar to just using a piece of paper, although we strongly recommend using a digital platform, more on that later. Usually we use a scale such as smileys or 1-10 to describe how we feel on a daily basis. When we do this regularly we will be able to spot exactly how our feelings change over a period of time. For example you may find that you are feeling great on Mondays but that your feelings usually mutes as we near the end of the week. And on a yearly basis that you may prefer the summer over the winter time.

Best way to track your mood

So how can we use a mood tracker in the most optimal way? We strongly advise to keep each entry in your mood tracker nice and simple. Get “in and out” so to speak in less than a minute or so. This way we keep the barrier of entry nice and small.

Especially do a mood entry whenever you feel strongly about something. For example when you just left work on a high, or are stressed out for a presentation. We also advise you to add an activity to each entry whenever applicable. This is really valuable data because now we can see what is causing you to feel a certain way. For example “I feel amazing, have just baked a cake”. Or “I am sad, just did my tax returns”.

The value from all these short mood entries are compounded at the end of each month or year. Now, using Luci as an example, you can see exactly how each activity has contributed to your mood. You may find that baking makes you slightly happy (+0.2), and that dating has a negative impact on your happiness (-1.2). In addition you will see exactly how you felt on average throughout the month. After which you can start applying changes to your lifestyle and track how it changes your overall mood.

Best practices

We hope you are convinced a mood tracker can help you find happiness. Here are some do’s and don’ts to get you on the right path towards mental health awareness.

Do entries on a consistent basis Try to add your mood regularly throughout the day. Don’t worry about averages or polluting the data, good mood trackers are able to calculate the averages for you.

Don’t worry, ever Seeing all your personal data can be scary. Don’t ever worry. If you see unhappiness that is only a point in time and something we can improve. Your feelings are your own and all that changes when using a mood tracker is that you are aware and able to track changes. Let’s find positivity together!

Do make changes Now that happiness tracking is a thing in your life, do start making changes. Try to minimise what makes you stressed, and maximise moments of joy whenever possible. You may even find that work is really, as in really really, stressing you out, if that is the case do consider a change of career when possible. Obviously change is always scary and not always possible, but not living our happiest life is a crime too.

Don’t change tools too often A good mood tracker is one that is easy to use and works for you. Once you find one try to stick with it. The last thing we want to do is spread our data all over the place. Try to find one that works, is secure and in constant development so that it can grow with you.

That’s it. We hope we have convinced you to give mood tracking a try. Remember that being happy and mentally healthy requires conscious efforts. Let’s do it together!