I have been journaling on and off since the age of 11. How I first got into it is a funny story — I have been a big Potterhead since the age of 8, and for all of you who watched Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, you might remember Tom Riddle’s diary. Well, unfortunately, we do not live in a world where the pages can just absorb your memories, but we can put pen to paper (or type on our favourite journaling app). That was the first time I came across the concept of journaling and as the years went by, I decided to document my own life too.
At first, it started with me recounting the entire day’s events on a page. As years went by, my journaling habit underwent certain changes. Now, I journal either as a form of catharsis or as a way to store a memory. Sometimes, I also use prompts. Prompts are a great way to start journaling. Depending on my mood, I switch between pen and paper or the Notion app on my phone.
Here are several ways journaling can positively impact mental health:
💭 Emotional Release
This is no surprise. Journaling is a way to dump your feelings on paper and lighten yourself up in the long run. The very act of putting pen to paper and writing down your feelings and emotions can do wonders for our heart and brain. Such is the power of journaling — it can quickly become a reservoir of all the emotional releases that are a by-product of this thing called “life.”
Journaling is a great medium for allowing the free expression of feelings, leading to gaining clarity and insights. Sometimes, the act of putting your thoughts on paper can help solve that very problem that was festering in you.
🤔 Self-Reflection
Journaling is also a great way to track your emotional progress over time and foster self-awareness along the way via reflecting on feelings and behaviours. It also encourages regular introspection of thoughts, emotions and experiences. Journaling allows for a private space to examine your personal growth and patterns of behaviours that give rise to evolving perspectives.
🌿 Stress Reduction
Journaling aids in stress reduction by offering a structured outlet to unload all your emotions and worries. It promotes mindfulness and relaxation. A more regular or frequent form of journaling can clarify stress triggers. This helps in the identification of coping strategies, which help in building a sense of control over your emotions, thus promoting overall emotional well-being.
🧩 Problem-Solving Approach
Journaling provides a structured way to explore our thoughts and emotions. It helps in the clarification of issues and identifying the patterns needed to generate solutions. Writing prompts aid introspection, thus fostering creativity and a deeper understanding of our problems. It is also a great way to track our progress and keep records of developments.
😊 Enhanced Mood
As stated before, journaling facilitates the expression of emotion. It reduces stress through catharsis, providing a sense of clarity and perspective. It also helps prioritise our thoughts in a balanced manner and manage anxiety. Regular or frequent journaling also fosters self-awareness, mindfulness and overall emotional stability.
🎯 Goal Setting & Achievement
Somehow, writing things down makes them more concrete. This is where goal-setting and achievement come into action. Journaling provides a structured space to clarify objectives while breaking them into actionable steps and tracking progress. It allows reflection on the challenges faced and acting accordingly, if needed.
Journaling transforms abstract aspirations into concrete plans, makes goals more attainable and helps us stay focused on our objectives.
🧠 Improvement in Mental Health
Journaling is an amazing outlet for expressing emotions and organising them in a structured format. This promotes mindfulness and relaxation. Journaling is a great tool to identify negative thought patterns, reframe your mental blocks and foster resilience. With frequent journaling sessions, you develop a sense of control and empowerment over your emotions and experiences. This, ultimately, contributes to improved mental health and emotional balance.
Final Take
Many mental obstacles can be highlighted, if not resolved, with journaling. As mentioned before, journaling is a form of catharsis, akin to confiding in a trusted listener.
Do you journal? What is your favourite thing about journaling?
Photo by Noémi Macavei-Katócz on Unsplash
Anwesha RC 