The Complete Guide to Connecting Your Data Sources

The Power of Connected Data

Journaly becomes exponentially more powerful when you connect the apps and devices you already use. Instead of a vague "had a good day," your journal can capture specifics: "Ran 5 miles this morning with an average pace of 8:30, heart rate peaked at 165 during the hill intervals, then grabbed coffee with Sarah at 2pm before the team meeting."

This guide will walk you through connecting each data source to maximize your journaling experience.

Apple Health & Fitness

Start here—Apple Health is the foundation for iOS users. It aggregates data from multiple sources automatically.

• Step count and active minutes
• Sleep duration and quality
• Heart rate and variability
• Workouts from Apple Watch
• Nutrition data (if you track meals)

Setup: Open Journaly → Settings → Connections → Apple Health → Allow Access. Choose which data categories to share (we recommend all for the richest entries).

Strava (Pro Feature)

For serious athletes, Strava provides detailed workout analytics that go beyond Apple Health.

• Detailed route maps and elevation data
• Pace, speed, and power metrics
• Segment performance and PRs
• Social aspects (kudos, comments from training partners)

Setup: Journaly Settings → Connections → Strava → Connect Account → Authorize Journaly to read your activities.

WHOOP (Pro Feature)

WHOOP users get recovery scores, strain data, and sleep insights integrated into their entries.

• Daily recovery percentage
• Strain score and optimal training zones
• Sleep performance and sleep debt
• HRV and resting heart rate trends

Journaly can note patterns like: "Third day in a row with 90%+ recovery—your consistent sleep schedule is paying off."

Calendar & Gmail (Pro Feature)

Your calendar tells the story of your time, and Gmail provides context about communications and events (don't worry—we only read metadata, never email content).

• Meetings and appointments
• Travel plans and confirmations
• Event invitations and RSVPs
• Delivery notifications and purchases

Your entry might note: "Back-to-back meetings from 10am-4pm, then a well-deserved happy hour with the team. That plane ticket confirmation for next month's trip came through too."

Photos & Location (Pro Feature)

A picture is worth a thousand words, and location context adds depth to your memories.

• Photos taken each day
• Places visited (with respect to your privacy settings)
• Time spent in different locations

Photos are automatically woven into your entries and can be used for Memory Movies.

Privacy & Control

You have complete control over which connections are active and what data they share. Disconnect any source at any time. All data is encrypted end-to-end, and we never sell or share your personal information with third parties.

Start with one or two connections and add more as you see how they enrich your journal entries.