Welcome to Refinery29’s Feel Good Diaries, where we explore the broad definition of wellness and what it really means to us. This series is an extension of our long-running Money Diaries series, where we ask readers to record a week of their spending. At Feel Good Diaries, we do the same — except we focus on health and wellness-related spending rather than overall purchases.
Wellness is both physical and emotional and looks different for everyone. Tracking your routine – whether it’s rigid or more sporadic, whether it’s a morning workout or an afternoon nap – can help you hold yourself accountable and also allows you to appreciate the steps you’ve already taken to take care of yourself your. These diaries give us a glimpse into the familiar routines of Refinery29 readers, and they have the chance to make us feel less alone in our personal wellness journeys—whatever they look like.
How do I submit my Feel Good Diary?
Simple! Record your wellness expenses over seven days and report all the details to us using this Google Form. Ideally, you will have three updates per day and each should be around 100-250 words. These updates should include everything you have done to look after your physical and mental well-being and should include:
Fitness (classes, runs in the park, continuous training)
Food (meals, protein powders, meal delivery services, special diets and food)
Supplements (vitamins, filters, powders)
Services (treatments, massages, cryotherapy, saunas, facials, infrared sessions, acupuncture and more)
Plus (meditation, candles, apps, journaling, and anything else)
Sex (using a vibrator, shopping for sex, underwear, masturbating – anything sex-related!)
Make each entry as detailed as possible and include how it made you feel and any mishaps, and please timestamp each daily update and share costs à la Money Diaries.
Please note that all Feel Good diaries posted on the site are anonymous. We publish information about your age, location, job, salary, and daily journal entries, but never your name or contact information. This information is provided only to the editors of Feel Good Diary, who may be contacted with questions.
We will contact you if Feel Good Diary is selected for publication. In order to adhere to a timely publication schedule, we require a response within 72 hours. Submitting Feel Good Diary does not guarantee publication. If your Feel Good Diary is selected for publication, you will be entitled to receive a fixed fee of $150 USD or £150 GBP (depending on your country of residence), subject to such further terms and conditions as we may reasonably deem necessary. Feel Good calendars that are not published are not entitled to any payment. We will not remove Feel Good Diaries once they are published.
Before submitting your Salary History, please read and consider Refinery29 Terms of use and Privacy Policy (the Terms of use and Privacy Policy for UK residents). By submitting your Salary History to Refinery29, you agree to comply with and be bound by the applicable Terms of Use and Privacy Policy stated herein.
Tips for writing your Feel Good Diary
Record the time of day, amount spent, and a little detail about what you bought for each wellness-related purchase. The more details you provide, the better we understand your daily life, which makes a Feel Good Diary fun to read.
We want to know about your wellness practices beyond what you spend money on, too! We encourage you to record all your workouts, walks, wellness moments (the good and the bad!), time with friends and family, meals, and if you go shopping during the week, include a list of everything what you bought. If you have a partner with whom you share your finances, include any of their purchases for the week. Try to keep your Feel Good journal between 3,000-5,000 words.
Let’s start
Click here to fill out the Feel Good Diary form now.
Do you like what you see? How about something more R29, here?
I make $95,000 a year and spend $380 on self care
See how to submit your salary history
Feel Good Diary: Strava & Stationary Biking
