In today’s chaotic world, the days seem to blur together. We rush from one thing to the next, often running on autopilot. We eat quickly, we say “yes” to things automatically, even when we don’t have the time or energy for them, and we react to our emotions rather than truly feel them.
But what if I told you that dedicating just five minutes a day to a simple task could help slow down a crazy day, transform your relationship with food and improve your overall health?
That’s the power of journaling.
Allow yourself five minutes each day to write down what you’ve eaten, what you did, and how you felt about your choices. Did that afternoon snack satisfy you, or did it leave you feeling sluggish? Did a stressful meeting lead you to grab a sugary treat you didn’t really want? These small moments of reflection can reveal powerful insights about your habits and triggers.
If you haven’t started a journaling habit yet, there’s no better time than now. Writing down your thoughts and emotions helps you track your progress and gives you a chance to learn more about yourself. Over time, these daily reflections can create a clearer picture of how your choices align with your goals and overall wellbeing. Whether you keep a daily food log, jot quick notes about your feelings, or write a few paragraphs about your day, journaling can help you become more aware of your choices – and how they make you feel.
If journaling feels awkward, and many people do when they first start, here’s a prompt to help you get started:
Reflect on your day and identify the choices you made. Did those choices support Habits of Health or Habits of Disease? If you could replay one scenario, would you make a different choice? What could you do to set yourself up for success next time?
Remember: change doesn’t happen overnight. Five minutes a day may not sound like much, but those minutes of reflection can help stay on track, and recognize unhealthy patterns and what triggers them.