Why should you start journaling? Journaling is a great way to become more in tune with your feelings and build self-awareness. Writing down your thoughts, fears, memories, hopes and everything else that pops into your heads makes everything seem a little more real. Here are the best reasons on how and why to start journaling.
HOW AND WHY TO START JOURNALING
Journaling is good for you. Research has shown journaling can be used as a way to clear your mind and establish a sense of meaning in your life. Journaling can help you face challenges, reduce your stress, process anxiety and create goals. Keeping a journal is one of the best ways to help you become a mindful person.
DIFFERENT WAYS JOURNALING IS HELPFUL
- facing emotional challenges
- reducing stress
- recording experiences – the good, the bad and the ugly!
- helps solidify memories
- can help boost working memory
The process of journaling – writing your thoughts and feelings down makes them seem more real. Writing down your feelings about a work or personal problem can help you assess the situation without getting overly emotional about it. Writing down your goals and passions can help you see what you need to work on to reach those goals.
TRY THIS: WRITE WITHOUT STOPPING
You might be surprised at what comes across your page!
Write without stopping to judge, correct or critique anything. Use journaling as a way to vent about your day, write out possible solutions to a problem you have or daydream about what you want more of in your life.
Whatever you do, don’t stop. Don’t try to spell-check. Don’t worry about punctuation. Don’t censor yourself. This journaling is for you. The process will help you become happier, more mindful and better at coping with problems so be honest with yourself!
GETTING STARTED
First of all I just want you to know there is no wrong way of journaling. What it boils down to is setting aside time each day and writing. That’s it.
You don’t need to be an artist. You don’t need the latest and greatest pens (although having cool pens is fun). And you don’t need any special supplies. Grab a notebook and a pencil/pen and you can start today. I’ll share some journaling supplies
JOURNALING TIPS AND TRICKS
- Establish a habit by keeping a regular writing time. I like writing a few minutes in the morning and am doing my best to turn this into a routine for myself. You can try writing in the morning while sipping your morning coffee. Or you might find you have the most time in the evening, before bed. Do whatever works for you.
- Slow it down! Don’t feel like you have to spend a certain amount of time writing. Even just a few minutes daily can make a difference in your life.
- Let the words flow. Again, don’t worry about grammar, punctuation or how the words sound. Remember no one will be reading this – it’s just for you. The goal is for you to write, to process, to flow and to discover so remember not to judge.
- Don’t know what to write about? Use journaling prompts. Prompts will make it easier to get into a writing routine.
- Go digital. If writing with pen and paper doesn’t make sense for you right now try journaling on a computer, your phone or using your voice to record a voice memo.
JOURNALING PROMPTS TO GET YOU STARTED
- 5 People I am grateful for and why.
- My ideal way to spend the day.
- What is the most important lesson I learned this year?
- What makes me feel happy?
- The one thing I want to remember about today.
- Advice I would tell my teenage self.
- A list of my favorite quotes.
- What do I wish more people knew about me?
- What are a few healthy things I can do for myself when I feel sad?
- Places I want to visit.
- My favorite family traditions.
I hope you learned a thing or two about journaling and were inspired to start your own journal.
Do you journal? Let me know in the comments!
Do you get the Resource Page?
Each week I'll send you the latest Resource Page. In it, you'll find
- Handy tips for focusing on positivity throughout your week.
- Tricks for getting your kids to listen to your every word (just kidding,Girl-- I'm still working on getting my kids to listen!) But I will send you fun activity ideas for you and your kids to do together.
- Useful tools that I come across, like meal planning ideas and such!
