Beyond the Numbers: 5 Holistic Health Areas to Track

When people think about improving their health, they focus on numbers – weight, blood pressure, BMI, and lab results. And while those are important, there’s much more to well-being than what shows up on a chart.  

As a board-certified family medicine physician and concierge doctor, I understand that much more in life can affect your mental and physical health. As such, I try to remind my patients to track things that can actually change in their daily lives.  

Instead of just focusing on numbers, think about five holistic health areas that can make a meaningful difference: joy, sleep, diet, exercise, and mood. 

1. Track what brings you joy for better emotional health.

Health isn’t just about your body — it’s about how you feel daily. What brings you joy? What makes you smile or warms your heart? This holistic health area is important. 

For some, it’s exercise or reading. For others, it’s a creative hobby, listening to music, or taking quiet moments alone. It doesn’t have to be something big, but it should be intentional.

If you don’t make space for joy, pushing it aside while focusing on work, family, or other responsibilities is easy. Taking note of what makes you happy — and making sure it’s part of your life — is a simple way to improve your overall well-being.

2. Improve sleep quality to boost overall well-being.

Many people struggle with sleep, but most don’t think about what they can actually do to improve it. Sleep hygiene is all about creating the right conditions for good rest.

A darker room, a cooler temperature, less screen time before bed — it all makes a difference. While it’s impossible to control everything that disrupts sleep, small adjustments can lead to better, more restful nights.

Adults should get seven or more hours of sleep per night on a regular basis to promote optimal health. Sleeping less than seven hours regularly can lead to health issues, including weight gain, depression, heart disease, and more. 

3. Monitor your diet quality for better nutrition and health.

It’s easy to say, “I eat pretty healthy,” but what does that truly mean? Are you getting enough fruits and vegetables? Enough fiber? Enough protein from good sources?

Sometimes, even a small tweak can make a big difference — like adding more protein to breakfast or making sure you get enough fiber throughout the day. And if it feels overwhelming, a health coach can help. It’s not about dieting; it’s about making sure your body is getting what it needs.

4. Track your fitness progress by measuring exercise endurance.

Instead of focusing on how much you work out, think about how your body feels when you move. Do you have more energy? Can you bike for 10 minutes without feeling exhausted? Can you lift a little heavier than you could a few months ago? It’s important to track your fitness progress.

Exercise isn’t just about burning calories. It’s about building endurance, strength, and confidence in what your body can do. Tracking that kind of progress — no matter how small — helps keep you motivated and moving forward.

5. Pay attention to mood changes to support mental health.

Mood changes are part of being human. Some days you feel great, and some days you don’t. But when does a bad mood become something more? Some people may not know how to monitor mental health changes.

If you’re feeling off more than not — more irritable, more anxious, more down — it’s worth paying attention. Checking in with yourself regularly helps you notice patterns, and if something doesn’t feel right, that’s a good reason to talk to your doctor.

You may want to talk to your doctor regarding your mood changes and changes in mental health if you constantly feel irritable, have difficulty concentrating or sleeping, have aches and pains, have a loss of interest in hobbies, have persistent sadness, stress more at work, etc.

Mental health is just as important as physical health, and tracking your mood is a simple way to care for yourself.

Achieve true wellness by embracing holistic health.

Good health isn’t just about numbers on a chart. It’s about how you feel, how you function, and how you live every day. Tracking joy, sleep, diet, exercise, and mood gives you real, meaningful ways to improve your well-being beyond just stepping on a scale.

What’s one small change you can make today to feel better tomorrow?

Are you ready to make that change but may need some guidance? Come join PartnerMD, where we can help point you in the right direction to improve yourself.

Click here to get in touch with one of our membership experts to get started.