Benefits of a Health Journal!

The benefits of creating a health journal or diary to record health related issues over time goes beyond the obvious… tracking what you used on whom, when you used it, including what worked and what didn’t! It’s a wonderful way to clarify your thoughts and experiences, and in the future will provide you with a window to the past and provide you with a great reference of past experiences to refer to.

Although I store tons of information and documents on my computer, which makes it great for researching, it is NOT always convenient to have to use my computer to look up information, especially in the middle of the night. Having all this information on “my” computer or phone apps also prevents my family members from finding information I’ve saved. Having a health journal makes it quick and easy for everyone in the family to look up information I’ve saved on various topics or to look up what we’ve used in the past for each family member. It actually helps them take responsibility for looking up this information on their own… and NOT to have to rely on ME to do it for them! Although I don’t mind and it’s part of my nature to do so, I also want to foster and encourage them to use this tool in their lives too so that it will become second nature to them and ingrained as a way of life.

It’s also a great place to store articles from newspapers and magazines, or PINTEREST pins. How many times have you cut out an article and then later can’t remember where you put it. Creating a Health Journal will give you a place to store this information so that you can put your hands on it quickly when you want to refer to it.

It’s very inexpensive to create, easy to take with you on trips or vacations, allows family members easy access for “how-to-use” info, and will quickly become a very valuable tool for all family members. I purchased a composition notebook for less than a dollar! You may choose to purchase a three ring binder which will allow you more flexibility in moving and/or adding pages where needed. Some of you may even have some beautiful empty “journals” laying around the house just waiting for you to fill it’s pages… I can’t think of a better way to put it to good use! Come to think of it, this would make a great “gift” to give children moving away from home.

Here are some tips you may want to consider when creating your journal:

• Decide whether to use a 3-ring binder or notebook.
• In the front make a FAMILY MEMBER section- record each family members name. If using a notebook leave numerous pages in-between each family member allowing enough space for future record keeping!
• In the next section, make an ISSUES & AILMENTS section. If using a notebook, begin making a reference guide for the various health issues that tend to recur in your family, perhaps a third or more of the way through (depending on the size of your family) . This section will allow you to save information, images (Pinterest board pins), recipes, magazine articles, etc. I suggest that before you begin this section that you first make a list of those issues/ailments that tend to recur in your family. If using a notebook and attempting to alphabetize your journal you’ll want to be sure to leave several pages between each new issue to allow for future additions.
• Consider creating two journals- a Family Member Journal which is used to record and track individual family members; and an Issues/Ailments Journal intended to be a quick reference guide for an easy way for family members to look up what to use and/or do for specific problems.

Whether you create one journal, or two, or use a notebook or 3-ring binder, the FAMILY MEMBER section or journal will be a wonderful tool allowing you to track over time, patterns, trends, and improvements which is something I believe you will come to treasure. And best of all there are no rules. So have fun and don’t be afraid to let your creative juices flow! Best wishes and let the journaling begin!