The Benefits of Journaling

It’s not new that journaling has been proven to be beneficial for our health, but how exactly and what are some ways we can best harness the power?

Improving mental health

The power of journaling when it comes to depression or anxiety can massively help. Writing down how you feel and trying to discover what caused those feelings can help identify triggers and help you work through those feelings and strategies to move past it. It helps you gain control of your emotions. It can help you prioritize problems or fears, you can track your emotions so you can recognize patterns and it’s a real opportunity to practice positive self-talk, rant or identify stressors. If you are stressing about something in the future, write through worst case scenarios so you feel prepared. 

Now how does journaling actually work?

Just start. It sounds so easy but truly just start by writing a couple lines every day. Recap your day, or write out a stressful situation you were in. 

Make sure you keep it easy, you're not going to journal if you keep it far away in a drawer. Make sure it’s accessible and you can easily reach for your pen and paper when you feel like writing something. Journaling doesn’t have to be only writing, lots of people find it easier to express themselves and their emotions through drawing or colouring. This is just as helpful when trying to improve your mental health and build a healthy lifestyle.

Improves other aspects of life

Journaling helps with your overall communication skills in life, it helps you have a clearer perspective and helps you express your thoughts in a more concise way. Writing leads to clear thinking which leads to clear communication. 

Not only that, but journaling has been proven to help you sleep better. We’ve all had those sleepless nights where we toss and turn because something is on our minds. Try writing it down, if you’re stressed about a situation coming up or waiting on news just write down your thoughts to empty your mind. Studies have shown after journaling we fall asleep way faster!

Hopefully you found some of these tips useful to start better controlling and expressing your emotions through journaling!