How to Use a Mood Tracker

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhy It’s ImportantTypesWhat to Look ForTipsPotential Challenges

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Why It’s Important

Types

What to Look For

Tips

Potential Challenges

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A mood tracker is a tool that is used to keep a record of a person’smoodat regular intervals. The purpose of this type of tool is to help look for patterns in how moods vary over time and due to different situations and circumstances.

In some cases, a mood tracker can be useful for people with mental health conditions—such asdepressionandanxiety—to help identify and regulate moods. That said, they can be useful for anyone to use, especially if you have noticed a recent change in your mood.

Mood trackers can range from the simple (a handwritten journal) to the complex (an online app that collects a range of information) and are available at a variety of price points.

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Mood tracking can be useful for a number of different reasons. For example, it might help you:

Studies have also shown thatmood tracker appscan be helpful for reducing harmful behaviors. One study found that a mood tracking app was useful for reducing thoughts of self-harm in adolescents.

Types of Mood Trackers

There are a number of different options that can be useful for tracking your moods. Some of these include:

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Choosing the right mood tracker for your needs depends on a variety of factors including your preferences and budget. Here are some features to consider before you use a mood tracker.

Convenience

Look for a mood tracker that is easy to update and maintain. You should be able to quickly access your tracker when you need it and make updates without dealing with a lot of hassle.

If it’s too difficult to keep up with, you’re less likely to use it often, which can defeat the purpose of tracking your moods.

Personalization

The ability to personalize your mood record can also be helpful. This might range from being able to include notes about things that you think played an important part in causing a certain mood to being able to note feeling mixed moods in a certain moment.

Price

Some mood trackers are available for free, but they may lack all of the features of the pricier options. However, you also don’t want to spend a lot of money on a mood tracker that you later find doesn’t work for you. Consider the price and look for a free trial version before you commit to buying the full-featured premium tool.

Tracking Options

Keep a record of your mood can be helpful on its own, but it’s also essential to connect those moods to external factors that may be affecting youremotions. Look for a mood tracker that allows you to also input information about things such as sleep, diet, exercise, medications, andtherapy.

Being able to connect moods to specific interventions can help you better understand what’s working and what isn’t.

Top Mood Tracker Apps and WebsitesCBT Thought Diary (Apple Store) (Google Play)Daylio (Apple Store) (Google Play)MyTherapy (Apple Store) (Google Play)MoodKit (Apple Store)MoodTracker

Top Mood Tracker Apps and Websites

CBT Thought Diary (Apple Store) (Google Play)Daylio (Apple Store) (Google Play)MyTherapy (Apple Store) (Google Play)MoodKit (Apple Store)MoodTracker

Tips for Tracking Your Moods

In addition to choosing a mood tracker that is right for your needs, there are also some things that you can do to make these tools more effective.

Of course, a mood tracker is only as useful as you make it. Like many mental health tools, adherence is perhaps the most pressing challenge for many people.

Remember to keep track of your moods on a regular basis isn’t always easy, although apps that allow you to set reminders and notifications can help overcome some of these challenges.

If you are struggling to keep up with your mood tracker, consider setting a daily reminder or notification on your phone.

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Mood trackers are one tool that may help you better understand your emotional states and improve your mental well-being. Not only can these tools be useful for determining if mental health interventions are helping with your mood, but they can also help you see how your mood might influence your physical health. For example, you might note that you’re less likely to eat healthily or sleep well when you are experiencing feelings of sadness, anxiety, orstress.

2 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Caldeira C, Chen Y, Chan L, Pham V, Chen Y, Zheng K.Mobile apps for mood tracking: an analysis of features and user reviews.AMIA Annu Symp Proc. 2018;2017:495-504.Grist R, Porter J, Stallard P.Acceptability, Use, and Safety of a Mobile Phone App (BlueIce) for Young People Who Self-Harm: Qualitative Study of Service Users’ Experience.JMIR Ment Health. 2018;5(1):e16. doi:10.2196/mental.8779

2 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Caldeira C, Chen Y, Chan L, Pham V, Chen Y, Zheng K.Mobile apps for mood tracking: an analysis of features and user reviews.AMIA Annu Symp Proc. 2018;2017:495-504.Grist R, Porter J, Stallard P.Acceptability, Use, and Safety of a Mobile Phone App (BlueIce) for Young People Who Self-Harm: Qualitative Study of Service Users’ Experience.JMIR Ment Health. 2018;5(1):e16. doi:10.2196/mental.8779

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Caldeira C, Chen Y, Chan L, Pham V, Chen Y, Zheng K.Mobile apps for mood tracking: an analysis of features and user reviews.AMIA Annu Symp Proc. 2018;2017:495-504.Grist R, Porter J, Stallard P.Acceptability, Use, and Safety of a Mobile Phone App (BlueIce) for Young People Who Self-Harm: Qualitative Study of Service Users’ Experience.JMIR Ment Health. 2018;5(1):e16. doi:10.2196/mental.8779

Caldeira C, Chen Y, Chan L, Pham V, Chen Y, Zheng K.Mobile apps for mood tracking: an analysis of features and user reviews.AMIA Annu Symp Proc. 2018;2017:495-504.

Grist R, Porter J, Stallard P.Acceptability, Use, and Safety of a Mobile Phone App (BlueIce) for Young People Who Self-Harm: Qualitative Study of Service Users’ Experience.JMIR Ment Health. 2018;5(1):e16. doi:10.2196/mental.8779

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