Trackers are one of the most popular types of pages in a journal. They make it easy to keep track of habits, goals and small progress in everyday life. Many people use trackers in a bullet journal, diary or reading journal to follow everything from books and mood to water intake, sleep and creative projects.
In short, a tracker acts as an overview where you record something over time. When you write things down on an ongoing basis, it becomes easier to see patterns, developments and progress. This can be both motivating and provide a better overview of your daily life.
If you are new to journaling, it can be a good idea to start with a few trackers and expand with more later. Many people begin, for example, with a reading tracker, a habit tracker or a mood tracker.
If you want to learn more about reading trackers, you can also read our guide to reading tracker ideas.
Here are 25 ideas for things you can track in your journal.
1. Books you are reading
Make a list of books you are reading during the year. You can add columns such as title, author, start date and rating. A reading tracker works well together with a Reading journal.
Number of pages you read
A page tracker shows how many pages you read every day or week. It gives a good overview of your reading routine.
3. Mood
A mood tracker can show how your mood develops over a month.
4. Sleep
Record how many hours you sleep each night.
5. Water intake
Track how many glasses of water you drink during the day.
6. Training
Create a tracker for workouts, walks or other activities.
7. Daily routines
Habit trackers are a classic in many journals. They are often used to track small daily habits.
8. Creative projects
Keep track of which creative projects you are working on, for example drawing, scrapbooking or journaling.
9. Budget
Note down small expenses or savings to get a better overview of your finances.
10. Podcasts
Keep track of podcasts you listen to.
Film
Make a list of films you have seen.
12. Series
Keep track of the series you follow.
13. Daily walks
Register your walks or other short activities during the day.
14. Meditation
Track how often you meditate or practise mindfulness.
15. New ideas
Create a tracker for ideas you get during the day.
16. Gratitude
Write down one thing you are grateful for every day.
17. The weather
A simple weather tracker can be nice to look back on later.
Energy level
Track your energy levels throughout the day.
19. Screen time
Keep an eye on how much time you spend on your phone or computer.
20. Learning
Keep track of new things you learn.
21. Recipes you want to try
Make a list of recipes you would like to make.
22. Places you want to visit
A tracker for places you dream of visiting.
23. Books you want to buy
Create a wishlist for upcoming books.
24. Quotations
Collect quotes you would like to remember.
25. Small victories
Track small successes in everyday life. It can be anything from reaching a goal to completing a good habit.
How to make your trackers
Trackers can be made in many ways. A simple table is often enough, but many also choose to make the page more visual.
For example, you can use:
If you would like to make your trackers more decorative, you can also use:
In Dot grid notebook makes it easy to draw tables and small charts for your trackers. You can also find inspiration in our selection of Notebooks and journals.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a tracker in a journal?
A tracker is a page in your journal where you record something over time. It can be habits, goals, mood or other things you want to keep track of.
What can you track in a journal?
You can track many different things like books, sleep, mood, water intake, habits, workouts and small everyday goals.
Why use trackers in a journal?
Trackers give an overview and make it easier to see patterns and progress in your daily life. It can also be motivating to follow your habits and goals.
How do you get started with trackers?
Start with a few simple trackers, for example a habit tracker or a mood tracker, and expand with more later when it feels natural.
Which notebook is best for trackers?
Many prefer a dot grid notebook because the dots make it easy to create tables and layouts.
Should trackers be attractive and creative?
No, trackers don't need to be advanced. A simple table is often enough, and you can always make them more creative later.
