A cool hidden gem: Apple’s State of Mind feature
Wearable technology has come a long way from simple step counters. Today, I want to share an Apple feature that might make a significant impact on your life: the State of Mind tracking. This feature, while not widely known, offers a powerful tool for understanding and managing your mental wellbeing.
The State of Mind feature, available on both Apple Watch and iPhone, provides insightful charts based on your logged momentary emotional states. These visualizations with insights can be found in the Health app under Browse > Mental Wellbeing > State of Mind. The feature distinguishes from daily moods, which doesn’t seem to offer the same charts.
As you can see from the chart below, the feature clusters data to show patterns in your emotional states. This can help you identify trends in your mental wellbeing that you might have otherwise missed.
Or how about this one! You might get some surprising insights.
A quick quide on how to use the State of Mind
To use this feature effectively, start by logging your state of mind regularly. Here’s a how to do this:
- Open the Health app on your iPhone and navigate to Browse > Mental Wellbeing > State of Mind.
- Tap ‘Log’ (or ‘Get Started’ if it’s your first time).
- Choose between logging a momentary emotion or an overall daily mood.
- Use the slider to indicate how you’re feeling, and optionally select words that describe your state and what’s impacting it.
- Tap ‘Done’ to save your entry.
You can also set reminders to log your state of mind throughout the day or at the end of each day.
This consistent logging is key to getting the most out of the feature. You actually need a bunch of logged data in order for the visualisations to show. Over time, you’ll be able to view your state of mind history, including factors associated with your entries and how lifestyle elements like exercise, sleep, and mindfulness correlate with your mental state.
Final word
Feature such as this are more than just simple mood trackers. Used properly, they can become tools for self-reflection and awareness. By regularly checking in with yourself and seeing the patterns emerge over time, you may be able to get unexpected insights into how your daily activities and experiences affect your mental wellbeing. It’s about understanding the ebb and flow of our emotional lives – and reducing the negative influences.
Essential reading: Top fitness trackers and health gadgets
While this may not be the flashiest feature on the Apple Watch, the State of Mind tracking might become a essential part of your daily routine. I encourage you to give it a try and see how it might enhance your understanding of your own mental wellbeing.
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