Why Journal?
I have kept a journal since college, and they have been my trusted companions through my tears and joys. It’s a safe space that is personal and can make you feel completely free. My advice to first time journal-ers (if that’s a word), is to write whatever comes to mind for at least 10 minutes.
Your initial freestyle journaling will help you open up your flow. Pretty soon your thoughts begin to settle and deeper emotions start to surface. This is when it becomes a judgement free zone to observe how you really feel about something. Studies have found that people who regularly journal are happier, more grounded, and more organized.
Looking for a job?
Using a journal can even help you find a new job. One recent study divided people who had recently lost their jobs into two groups; one group was given journals and told to write regularly, the other group was told to carry on their normal daily activities without journaling. Six months later, the group that journaled had a significantly higher rate of securing another job in comparison to the non-journal group.
Benefits of Journaling
There’s many benefits to writing your thoughts down, including helping you stay productive. It helps me stay motivated in completing a task, especially if it seems initially overwhelming. I break it down into categories, then necessary steps within each category. I especially enjoy checking off things and usually the joy from crossing something off propels me to complete the next task on the list.
Improve your Mindfulness
Journaling also helps mindfulness. Asking why you feel a certain way and then writing down your honest response on paper helps with self-realization and allows you to release negative feelings.
A journal is a useful tool to add to your therapy arsenal and a good way to organize your thoughts before starting your day!
