MENTAL HEALTH TRACKING
Emotional Well-Being: My Experience with Apple’s State of Mind
How I am using the new feature in Apple Health for emotional self-awareness.
In a world of constant updates and digital distractions, Apple’s iOS17 brought a subtle yet intriguing addition — State of Mind, a new tool within Apple Health designed to help you log your emotions. At first, it might seem trivial, but as I delved into it, I discovered its potential.
With State of Mind, you can record how you’re feeling at any moment of the day, rating your emotions on a scale from Very Unpleasant to Very Pleasant. And on doing that, you can add two types of tags to each entry: emotional descriptions, for a more nuanced understanding of your feelings, and categorization by the areas of life these emotions relate to.
Here’s a straightforward view of some of the options for logging your emotions:
There are two ways to log your emotions — in real-time or retrospectively. You can even adjust the timing of your entries to capture the moment accurately. Personally, I prefer logging emotions as they occur. Memories of emotions tend to fade or intensify, making real-time entries more authentic.
Another way to accomplish this is by incorporating logging entries into your daily routine. I’ve made it a habit to create new entries using my Apple Watch during moments of pause in my day. Additionally, I find it beneficial to complete my daily log while lying in bed at night, just before charging my phone. This consistent routine ensures that I capture my emotions as they naturally unfold.
Over time, as you accumulate data, you can analyze trends. Apple Health offers comparisons with other collected data, such as your sleep patterns and exercise habits. It also identifies the tags you use most frequently, giving you insights into the factors affecting your emotional well-being.
But you might wonder, what’s the real value of this? After all, we’re quite aware of what makes us happy or sad, right? Well, not always.
In today’s world of social media, we’ve become accustomed to sharing every aspect of our lives. Personal diaries have given way to public posts, where we seek validation from others. Whether it’s showcasing achievements, sharing personal struggles, or simply humble bragging, social media thrives on our need for attention.
Interestingly, I’ve found more fulfillment in using a smaller app like State of Mind for these reflections, away from the constant craving for social media validation.
It’s a personal journey to understand our emotions better, minus the public spotlight.
In a world buzzing with endless information, the simple act of pausing to note your state of mind can be a portal to some valuable self-reflection. But the perks don’t stop there. I’ve actually started getting into this habit recently, and it’s been a total game-changer for me in dealing with the crazy challenges that come with my ADHD and the never-ending demands of my day job
I found myself on a dangerous path, and I was beginning to see it more clearly. Dealing with a concerning burnout episode and occasional alerts for atrial fibrillation, I started to visualize the emotional toll that my job was taking on me. Through this visualization, I made invaluable discoveries.
As I forge ahead, seeking solutions through medical experts, therapy, and much-needed rest, these periodic psychological check-ins have proven transformative.
Apple’s latest feature might seem modest, but it’s a game-changer. It introduces functionality that other apps would charge a premium for. Moreover, it amplifies the Apple Watch’s utility for folks who may not be gym enthusiasts or those still warming up to a fitness routine. This wearable companion is a robust ally in health management; it even prods me to stay hydrated throughout the day. Let’s not overlook the significance of mental health — an area often sidelined. The inclusion of more mental health features is an unequivocal win.
Yet, there are a few areas for improvement. The data graph doesn’t distinctively separate moment-specific emotions from the overarching daily ones. They both register as nondescript dots on the graph, lacking clarity.
Another eagerly anticipated feature is the forthcoming Journaling tool slated for release later this year. It promises the ability to recap the day’s activities, including photos taken and places visited, all while offering room for manual entries.
Although I personally prefer keeping a physical journal — which is when I get to use my modest collection of fountain pens —, having a digital record of a particular time, especially when I am only able to write about it days later, is undeniably valuable.
I hope that, over time, Apple and other technology companies will research and develop more ways to assist us in managing our mental health. While simply ranking emotions on a linear scale from Unpleasant to Pleasant may not be the only method for translating our emotions into useful data that we can work with, it is a good starting point for us to prioritize well-being, one entry at a time.
Thank you for reading my insights. Stay tuned for whatever else I’ll end up deciding to pen down next!
