Do you feel like you are in tune with and know everything about your body and personal health? If not, don’t worry! Our bodies and health are always changing as we age — not always for the worse, but also for the better. Often, when we think of our bodies, we think of how they appear or how they feel while we are wearing plus size clothing. But how often do you think about your health and how your body is feeling? If you’re looking to gain more insight into your personal health and body or control over it, keeping a personal health journal can be a great way to achieve more awareness.
What Do I Keep in a Personal Health Journal?
Personal health journals can look different for everyone, as most people have different goals and health histories. However, health journals should cover all aspects of your health — not just your physical or medical health history. Here are some of the things we find beneficial to keep listed in your health journal:
- Vaccinations
- Injuries
- Surgeries
- Annual exam dates
- Family or personal conditions
- Health goals
- Moods
- Self-esteem
- Medicines, vitamins and supplements you take
- Any health concerns you have
- Health milestones you are proud of
- Workout regimen and activity
Reasons to Start a Personal Health Journal
While we think starting a personal health journal is a great way to get more in touch with your body and health history, there are many reasons why individuals embark on this journey. Here are some reasons why starting a personal health journal is a good idea:
1. Become More in Tune with Your Body
Our bodies are quite incredible, but we may not think of them in terms of the health powerhouses that they are. By creating a health journal, it can be a great reminder of just how important it is to take care of your body, which will make you more inclined to stay in tune with your body and its needs. Whether you track how often you visit the doctor, the supplements you take or any additional health concerns you may have, a health journal is a great first step in learning more about your body.
2. Keep Health Front and Center
So often, we can become consumed with how our bodies look instead of how they are functioning and feeling. If you are wanting to embrace the body positivity movement more and shift your thoughts of your body toward health instead of appearance, creating a health journal can help you center that. After all, our bodies are much more than just how they look while wearing tunic tops.
3. Gain Control of Certain Health Issues
If you and your doctor have health concerns, creating a health journal to monitor these conditions and concerns can help you achieve control and more awareness over them. Your doctor may ask you to track certain aspects of your routine to shine more light on a health concern or issue, and having a health journal will only aid you in staying consistent.
4. Help Creating New Routines
If you are adopting a new routine — whether it is exercising, a diet or taking new vitamins and supplements — keeping your daily log in a health journal can help keep you on track. You can journal your routine, as well as how you feel as you stay more consistent. Reading past entries and keeping your progress logged will help encourage you to keep up with your routine.
5. Achieve Goals Faster
Do you have a list of goals around your health that you want to achieve? Whether it is becoming more confident, sticking to a certain level of water consumption every day or hitting the gym throughout the week, a journal can help you reach your goals faster. Use your health journal to document your goals. When you reach a milestone, make sure you document that in your journal along with a personal entry on how you are feeling.
When you write down your goals, studies show you’re more inclined to reach them. These goals don’t have to be weight- or body-based at all, but they do need to be measurable so that there is a specific way you can tell if you have accomplished them. For example, if you want to build your confidence, write down a goal that has to do with completing a certain activity that only the most confident version of yourself could do.
6. Keeping Your Medical Records in One Easy to Find Place
Having a health journal isn’t just great for reaching goals, setting new routines and learning more about your body. It’s also a great way to be able to access your medical records quickly and efficiently. It can be a hassle having to see a new doctor or see a new specialist and having to dig up information on your health history or call multiple doctors for information. But by keeping a health journal for yourself, you will always have access to critical health information.
7. Reduce Health Stress and Anxiety
Keeping your health journal updated with relevant information can give you peace of mind when it comes to health concerns and issues. If you have them written down, you become aware of them, and you can easily develop goals to help you achieve milestones and regain control of your health. It’s also empowering, as a new patient, to walk into a doctor’s office with all of your information and knowledge in one place.
How Do I Request Medical Information for My Health Journal?
If you are looking forward to filling out and starting a health journal, you’re probably wondering where to start and how to get the critical information you need. You can start by calling your doctor’s office and requesting them to email you your records. Sometimes there will be certain ways you need to obtain this information for security and privacy reasons, but you should always have access to this information. Are you ready to start your health journal journey? We hope it brings so many added benefits to your life and overall health.
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