Voice · Setup in 8 min· Setup Pass

Set up Otter.ai for Symptom Journaling in 8 minutes

Configure Otter.ai to capture a searchable, private audio journal of your symptoms and meals.

Keeping a consistent symptom or food log is tedious. This guide configures Otter.ai to act as a private, voice-activated journal, making it easier to capture daily health data without typing.

Before you start

• An Otter.ai account (Pro plan recommended for privacy)
• The Otter mobile app
• 8 quiet minutes

The steps

1. 01

   Create a "Health" group

   Inside Otter, create a group named "Health". This acts as a dedicated folder, keeping your health logs separate from other recordings like work meetings.

2. 02

   Set the group to "Members only"

   In the group's settings, configure the access level to "Members only". Since you are the only member, this makes all recordings within this group private to your account.

3. 03

   Record your first entry

   Using the mobile app, start a new recording inside the "Health" group. Speak naturally, describing your current symptoms, the meal you just ate, or your energy levels—for example, "1 PM, post-lunch. Feeling bloated. Lunch was a chicken salad with vinaigrette."

4. 04

   Correct key terms

   Review the transcript and use Otter's editor to correct any misspellings of specific symptoms, supplements, or food ingredients. This improves the accuracy of future searches, forming a reliable "Ledger" of your inputs.

5. 05

   Search your journal

   After a week, use the search bar to query your entries. Search for a specific food like "coffee" or a symptom like "headache" to see when they co-occur in your transcripts.