HOW TO KEEP A HEALTH JOURNAL by Jordan Maerin Why Keep a Journal? Naturopaths, homeopaths and health practitioners often rely on self-reporting to determine the progress a client is making under their care, though they may also use laboratory testing intermittently or for certain conditions. Self-reporting is an inexact method for determining subtle changes in health, so keeping a health journal is vital for charting which of your efforts are helping you achieve your goals. Imagine that you're a health practitioner interviewing a new client. You ask them how they feel in general and what their specific health concerns are. If you are not thorough with your questions and do not write down every answer meticulously, then the next visit by the same client will give you little information regarding how their health may have changed. It is common for clients to report feeling "okay" and reporting no general change in their health, while at the same time reporting positive progress when asked the same specific, meticulous questions they were asked during the last visit. How To Keep a Journal Begin your journal as if you are a health practitioner giving yourself an intake questionnaire. Use the questions below as a starting point, and then remove those that don't apply and add your own as they pertain to your specific health concerns and goals. Ask yourself the same specific questions every time you check in, every two to three weeks or so. Once you determine what is working for you and what isn't, you can continue to develop more positive habits and more confidently experiment with new practices and strategies. First, record the date and time, and what kinds of changes you've made to your routine or health regimen since the last check in. Then answer some or all of these questions as thoroughly as you can: How well do I sleep at night? How do I feel when I wake up in the morning? How is my energy throughout my day? Do I get sleepy during my day? How comfortable are my joints and muscles? Is exercising pleasant and comfortable? Do I recover quickly from exercise? How comfortable is my digestion? How's my appetite? Do I feel satisfied after eating? Do I binge eat on high-calorie foods? Do I eat enough? Is hunger very uncomfortable or painful for me? Can I breathe comfortably? How is my concentration and short term memory? How is my mood? Am I often irritable? What are my specific health goals? What is the next baby step I'll take toward my goals? When will I check in again? Return to Beginners' Page The information on this website is not meant as medical advice. By following any dietary or health program, you are prescribing for yourself, which is your right.