"How is the weather inside of you?" 

It's a question that we rarely ask ourselves, yet it holds the power to transform our understanding of our inner world. In the flow of life, our emotions act like changing weather patterns, sometimes sunny and bright, other times stormy and unpredictable. Life isn't a linear journey of constant happiness. It's a palette of different emotions - moments of joy, sadness, excitement, disappointment, and a mix of other feelings.

A skill that everyone must learn is to navigate through life's challenges. When we embrace our feelings, we can adapt our actions and responses to better suit our emotional state, creating balance that's essential for personal growth and success. Ignoring or suppressing our emotions can lead to stress, burnout, and missed opportunities. On the other hand, understanding and adapting can help you enhanced productivity, deeper relationships, and a more fulfilled life. Let's learn more about mood tracking!

WHAT IS MOOD TRACKING?

Mood Tracking is a simple yet powerful practice of documenting one's emotion over a period of time. It's not just about noting whether you're feeling happy or sad; it's about understanding the nuances of your emotional spectrum and identifying patterns. 

WHY YOU SHOULD TRACK YOUR MOOD?

Self-awareness: Recognising emotional patterns can help you understand triggers and avoid situations that might cause unnecessary stress.

For example, Sophie noticed that her mood dipped significantly every Wednesday. Upon reflection, she realised it was because her weekly meeting with a particularly difficult colleague. Knowing this, she prepared mentally for these interactions and looked for ways to make them more positive.

Improved Mental Health: By recognising your feelings, you can take steps to manage negative emotions, leading to better overall mental well-being.

For example, every time Sophie felt overwhelmed, she'd skip her pilates classes, leading to a cycle of stress and inactivity. By tracking her mood, she realised the correlation between her emotions and missing her workout. Now, even on stressful days, she makes it a point to engage in some form of physical activity to manager her feelings.

Enhanced Productivity: Understanding your mood swings helps in capitalising your "high" and navigating through the "lows" efficiently.

For example, Sophie found out she was the most energetic and positive in the mornings. She began scheduling her most challenging tasks before lunch, making the most of her peak productivity hours. She kept her afternoons for more routine tasks, making the most of her daily output. 

HOW DO MOODS IMPACT PRODUCTIVITY?

Moods significantly influence our cognitive abilities. When in a good mood, we tend to be more creative, open-minded, and willing to collaborate. Conversely, a bad mood can make tasks feel overwhelming, leading to procrastination. 

STEPS TO BEGIN MOOD TRACKING:

1. Choose a Medium: Whether it's an app, or our VisionAerie planner, pick a tool that suits you.

2. Rate Your Mood: At a fixed time each day, rate your mood. Our first edition planner has different keys that you can use and you can complete it everyday before completing your daily reflection and gratitude. 

Note Down Specifics: What events happened that day? Did something in particular make you happy, sad, stressed or relaxed? The planner also has pages next to the mood tracker for introspection. 

Review Periodically: At the end of the week or month, review your entries to identify patterns. 

INTEGRATING MOOD TRACKING WITH PRODUCTIVITY

Once you've identified your emotional patterns, adjust your tasks accordingly. Schedule challenging tasks during your emotional highs and less demanding ones during lows.

Mood tracking is essential to personal growth and enhanced productivity. With the Visionaerie planner, you get the added advantage of integrating mood tracking seamlessly into your daily routine, ensuring you stay at your productive best, regardless of the emotional tides.  

Happy self-discovery Visionaeries!