Ask HN: Do you use a mood tracker / journalling app? Why/why not?

#1

Post by zaksingh » Mon, Apr 06, 2020, 3:41 AM UTC

I've bounced between paper notebooks, Apple's notes app, and have recently begun looking at apps designed specifically for journalling and/or mood tracking. Is there a better alternative? Is it even worth the time investment?

Re: Ask HN: Do you use a mood tracker / journalling app? Why/why not?

#2

Post by billconan » Mon, Apr 06, 2020, 4:16 AM UTC

I do not. I can't self heal. I need to talk to others.

Re: Ask HN: Do you use a mood tracker / journalling app? Why/why not?

#3

Post by randomor » Mon, Apr 06, 2020, 5:22 AM UTC

I do. Went so far as creating an app for it cos I can’t stand using note taking apps or other badly designed tools. It’s called ZenJournal: https://thezenjournal.com/

Re: Ask HN: Do you use a mood tracker / journalling app? Why/why not?

#4

Post by analyticascent » Mon, Apr 06, 2020, 9:31 AM UTC

I use an app that has that as a feature, but I personally never utilize it.

The main reason is that each time I take a moment to "think" about how I feel, my mood changes accordingly.

In a way it's like a self-inflicted Hawthorne Effect when I try to consciously track my mood.

[caveats to the Hawthorne Effect: https://www.nber.org/papers/w15016.pdf]

Another issue is that I'm not sure what to do with the information such an app feature would generate. For many, mood is the result of things that aren't within their control.