Mood tracking is a

positive psychology Positive psychology is the scientific study of conditions and processes that contribute to positive psychological states (e.g., contentment, joy), well-being, Positive psychology of relationships, positive relationships, and positive institutio ...

technique for improving

mental health Mental health is often mistakenly equated with the absence of mental illness. However, mental health refers to a person's overall emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It influences how individuals think, feel, and behave, and how t ...

where a person records their mood, usually at set time intervals, in order to help identify patterns in how their mood varies. It has been suggested as a

self-help Self-help or self-improvement is "a focus on self-guided, in contrast to professionally guided, efforts to cope with life problems" —economically, physically, intellectually, or emotionally—often with a substantial psychological basis. When ...

method for people suffering from

mood disorders A mood disorder, also known as an affective disorder, is any of a group of conditions of mental and behavioral disorder where the main underlying characteristic is a disturbance in the person's mood. The classification is in the ''Diagnostic ...

such as

anxiety Anxiety is an emotion characterised by an unpleasant state of inner wikt:turmoil, turmoil and includes feelings of dread over Anticipation, anticipated events. Anxiety is different from fear in that fear is defined as the emotional response ...

clinical depression Major depressive disorder (MDD), also known as clinical depression, is a mental disorder characterized by at least two weeks of pervasive low mood, low self-esteem, and loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities. Intro ...

, and

bipolar disorder Bipolar disorder (BD), previously known as manic depression, is a mental disorder characterized by periods of Depression (mood), depression and periods of abnormally elevated Mood (psychology), mood that each last from days to weeks, and in ...

. There are a variety of tools and technologies available to help individuals track their moods. Some popular options include pen and paper as well as apps for mood tracking which let users track trends over time. Wearable devices like

Fitbit Fitbit is a product lining, line of wireless-enabled wearable technology, physical fitness monitors and activity trackers such as smartwatches, pedometers and monitors for heart rate, quality of sleep, and stairs climbed as well as related soft ...

and

Apple Watch The Apple Watch is a brand of smartwatch products developed and marketed by Apple Inc., Apple. It incorporates activity tracker, fitness tracking, Health (Apple), health-oriented capabilities, and wireless telecommunication, and integrates wit ...

also include mood tracking features, allowing users to track their moods throughout the day and receive personalized insights and recommendations based on their data. While mood tracking can be a valuable tool for individuals looking to improve their

and

well-being Well-being is what is Intrinsic value (ethics), ultimately good for a person. Also called "welfare" and "quality of life", it is a measure of how well life is going for someone. It is a central goal of many individual and societal endeavors. ...

, there are also potential limitations and ethical concerns that should be considered. One potential limitation is the potential for self-report bias, as individuals may not accurately report their emotional states or may be influenced by social desirability bias. Additionally, consistent tracking over time is necessary for mood tracking to be effective, which may be challenging for some individuals. It is important to note that mood tracking should not be used as a substitute for professional

treatment. Rather, it can be a useful tool for individuals to complement their existing treatment and support overall

References

{{Cite web, last=Stein, first=Loren, date=2020-01-01, title=Depression Recovery: Keeping a Mood Journal, url=https://consumer.healthday.com/encyclopedia/depression-12/depression-news-176/depression-recovery-keeping-a-mood-journal-645064.html, archive-url=, archive-date=, access-date=2020-08-02, website=HealthDay, language=en Positive psychology Treatment of mental disorders