Have you been searching for a new way to feel better? If so, you may want to simply reach for your pen and paper! Keeping track of your wellness goals using a wellness planner boasts a long list of health benefits. Besides helping you stay organized, writing your intentions down can even boost your mental health. And—it can be fun! We’ve outlined some information and tips to get you started.
What is a wellness planner?
If you’re not familiar, a wellness planner is an all-in-one place for you to track your fitness and nutrition goals, plus anything else that’s going on with your health. It works just like a journal. When picking one out, it helps to think about areas of your health you want to focus on.
Things you can track in your planner
So, what can you use it for? Your wellness planner can help you track a multitude of things. These can include anything from your daily steps to your water intake to your larger wellness goals and aspirations.
It can be a good place to write down your health measurements, such as blood pressure readings, or your height and weight. You can also log wellness visits, vaccinations or medications you take. Your planner can even help you track your sleep habits. Or, it can simply be a place to jot down what’s on your mind or troubling you.
With anything you choose to record, your main goal is to view your progress. By seeing your history and steps you’ve taken, you can reflect on how far you’ve come. Then, charting a course toward achieving your goals becomes much easier. Plus, you’ll have added motivation to get where you’re going.
Here are some ideas of what to track:
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- Daily water intake
- Your number of steps
- Body measurements (height and weight)
- Workouts and exercise routines
- Foods you eat
- Medications, vaccinations and wellness visits
- Fitness goals
- Inspirational thoughts
- Sleep habits
Improving your mental health
On top of organizing your goals, your wellness planner offers many added benefits. For instance, writing in your journal can be good for your mental health. How does it help? The act of putting thoughts on paper allows your mind to relax. This is similar to when you read a book, or practice yoga or meditation. By letting your mind focus, you can lower stress and anxiety, and boost your mood. You could also notice improvements to your memory and concentration.
Finally, journaling is a good way to manage your emotional health. When you compose your thoughts, fears and concerns, you begin to prioritize your emotions. This can help you reduce worry and improve your mindset. It’s a great first step to consider if you’re trying to deal with any big looming decisions. And handling your emotions in a healthy way can have positive impacts on your physical health, too!
Getting started
With so many health benefits tied to keeping a wellness planner, there’s no better time to start than now! To begin, simply choose a goal or two to focus on. You can pick something like exercising more, eating healthier foods or fixing your sleep schedule—and then write down your activities to see your goals come to life.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not meant as medical advice.
