The Power of Tracking

For many women, the word tracking brings up mixed emotions.

Some think of strict rules, endless checklists, or feeling like they’re constantly being measured. Others avoid tracking altogether because they’re afraid it will highlight what they aren’t doing or where they’re “falling short.”

But here’s the truth: tracking isn’t about success or failure.
Tracking is about information.

And during perimenopause—when symptoms, energy, mood, and sleep can feel unpredictable—information is incredibly empowering.

Why Tracking Matters (Especially in Perimenopause)

Tracking helps you move from guessing to understanding.

Instead of wondering:

Why am I so exhausted today?
Why did I sleep so poorly last night?
Why do my symptoms feel worse some weeks than others?

Tracking helps you start asking:

What patterns am I noticing?
What supports me—and what doesn’t?
What changes might actually make a difference?

When you track, you’re no longer reacting blindly. You’re gathering clues about how your body responds to food, stress, sleep, movement, and lifestyle choices.

What You Can Track (There’s No One Right Way)

You don’t need to track everything. In fact, tracking works best when it’s simple and intentional.

Some helpful things to track include:

Energy levels
Mood or emotional well-being
Sleep quality and amount
Hot flashes or night sweats
Stress levels
Movement or exercise
Nutrition patterns
Habits you’re trying to build
Perimenopause symptoms and their intensity

You can track one thing—or a few. The goal isn’t to overwhelm yourself, but to gather information that helps you make informed decisions.

Tracking as a Tool for Lasting Change

Tracking isn’t just helpful for symptoms—it’s also one of the most effective tools for creating lasting change.

When you track behaviors instead of outcomes, you:

Build awareness
Notice consistency (not perfection)
See progress you might otherwise overlook
Learn what actually works for your life

Tracking helps shift the focus from “Did I get the result?” to “How is this working for me?”—and that’s where real change happens.

The Mindset Shift That Makes Tracking Work

This is where many people get stuck.

Tracking doesn’t work when it’s treated like:
❌ A report card
❌ Proof that you’re “doing it right” or “doing it wrong”
❌ Something you must do perfectly

❌ Something that needs to be fancy or complicated

Tracking incredible valuable when it’s treated like:
✔️ Curiosity
✔️ Data collection
✔️ A way to learn about yourself

If you skip a day—or a week—that’s not failure. That’s information too.

The most important part of tracking isn’t the tracking itself—it’s taking time to evaluate and reflect on what you’ve noticed.

Simple Tips for Sustainable Tracking

If tracking has felt hard or intimidating in the past, try this instead:

Start small. Track one thing at a time.
Choose a method you’ll actually use. Paper, planner, notes app—whatever feels easiest.
Keep it neutral. No judgment, just observation.
Schedule reflection time. Ask yourself: What patterns do I see? What surprised me? How can I intentionally move forward? Are there any connections?
Be flexible. Your tracking can change as your needs change.

Remember, tracking isn’t meant to control you—it’s meant to support you.

Want Support with Tracking?

If you’re looking for tools to help you track in a way that feels supportive (not overwhelming), I’ve created resources to help.

My book Don’t Make New Year’s Resolutions includes simple tracking tools to support habit-building and lasting change. Grab Your Copy Here!

And The Complete Perimenopause Health Planner is designed specifically to help you track symptoms, patterns, and lifestyle factors so you can better understand what your body needs in this season. Grab Your Planner Here!

Tracking isn’t about proving anything.
It’s about learning—and using that knowledge to care for yourself better.

And that kind of awareness?
That’s where meaningful, lasting change begins 💛