Journaling is a great way to gather one’s thoughts as well as begin the process of self discovery and self reflection. Journaling has been shown to reduce stress, achieve goals, cope with depression, anxiety management, engage in critical thinking, and regulate emotions. Journaling is a form of mindfulness that can help the writer engage in slowing down their thought process and gain some clarity into the way they may be thinking or interacting with the world, others, and themselves. As we better understand our emotions, we become more resilient and empathetic when facing life’s challenges.
Reducing stress
Life can be tough, and stress can feel like a heavy burden. Journaling is like a safe space for you and it becomes a place where we can unload our thoughts and emotions. Putting pen to paper helps us release stress, making us feel lighter and less burdened by our mind.
Achieving Goals
By getting your goals on paper, it starts the beginning of carrying out thought to action with the specific goals you may have. It can also help you to track your progress, motivating you more as you see the progress made.
Cope with Depression
By writing down your thoughts when going through depression, journaling can help to potentially identify negative thought patterns as well as help you engage in emotional release. Specifically during moments of emotional dysregulation, journaling can be really beneficial to help slow down and bring some clarity to what’s happening in the person’s mind.
Anxiety Management
Anxiety is one of the more common mental health issues people can face in their life. By journaling, you can find a sense of relief within getting the anxious thoughts written down and engage in evidence checking if these thoughts are true or helpful. Additionally, tracking when and where the anxious thoughts are happening can help to identify triggers and be a good way to track mood.
Critical thinking
Being able to self reflect with one’s self through journaling encourages questioning assumptions and considering different viewpoints. With consistent journaling, you can develop a habit of thinking critically and allow yourself to approach challenges and decisions more thoughtfully.
Regulating Emotions
Writing in a journal helps control emotions by giving a structured way to express and understand feelings. Putting emotions into words on paper gives a sense of relief and resolution that can feel cathartic. By engaging in this when feeling dysregulated emotionally, you can track emotional patterns and identify triggers. This mindful practice adds to a healthier and more balanced emotional way of dealing with mental health.
Linked below is a Google Doc full of 400 journal prompt ideas to help start practicing journaling as an addition to one’s caring for their mental health. It is recommended to start a few times a week and eventually try to move into journaling everyday.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bYW4yhjhj5Di_LS7Ur_m26lhgEDfff0srTtqai2e0Nw/mobilebasic