Have you ever heard someone talk about journaling and thought, “I have no idea why I would want to journal or how I go about it.”? I used to think that journaling was something that only very creative, intelligent people routinely did. Great writers, scholars, and big thinkers were the only people that kept journals. Now, I know better. The more I journal and write, the better my life becomes.
Journaling is about unloading the junk cluttering up your mind and getting it out where you can either leave it, learn from it, or use it to change and grow.
The best thing about journaling is that there is no right or wrong way to do it. The second best thing about journaling is that we all can do it.
Why journal?
Journaling will reduce stress, increase self-awareness, and improve mental health. A study by Baikie and Wilhelm, 2005 found that journaling enhances working memory and helps people recover from past traumas. Journaling also has the short-term effect of boosting your mood and the long-term impact of improving your sense of well-being.
Journaling has an impact on physical well-being. An avid journal writer and journalist, Michael Grothaus notes that “studies suggesting journaling can strengthen the immune system, drop blood pressure, help you sleep better, and generally keep you healthier.”
Journaling promotes your creativity, especially if you commit to it every day. It will also facilitate creative learning by establishing a record of important lessons presented to you and allowing you to explore your feelings about those lessons.
Gratitude journaling will boost your overall sense of gratitude and sensitivity to positive experiences. As you look for experiences to be grateful for, you will gradually become more optimistic, and your days will become filled with increasing positivity.
Journaling may help you meet goals, organize time, prioritize tasks, and improve motivation. I use a “bullet journal” as a daily planner to keep track of what I accomplish each day. The bullet journal contains short (bullet) points to help organize my tasks, capture thoughts, and help complete my daily goals.
Your journal is for your personal use only, so feel free to put your true self on each page. If you do not already have a journal, start one this week and tell me how it goes. It may feel awkward at first, but write anything that comes to mind. Getting thoughts out of your head will allow you to examine, organize, and grow your life.
Happy journaling!
Dr. Julie Cappel
References: Journaling is a good for your mental health - Family Care .... https://www.fcsprings.com/media/journaling-is-a-good-for-your-mental-health
5 Helpful Journaling Methods to Calm Your Anxious Mind - Calming Grace. https://www.calminggrace.com/journaling-to-calm-your-mind/
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