8 Reasons Why Keeping a Journal Benefits Your Mental Health
♥
By: Micaela Blitz
To say 2020 was a rubbish year would be putting it mildly!
Rolling into spring, hopefully 2021 is looking better for us all and less traumatizing.
My main New Year Resolution this year was to keep up with my journaling. Long before Bridget Jones started keeping a journal, I had one of my own.
As an angst-ridden teenager, I used a journal to record my innermost thoughts and feelings, as well as doodle the names of my latest crush or enemies. Even though I’ve worked through most of that teenage angst by now in life– I’ve long felt keeping a journal was great for my outlook on life and maintaining a positive attitude.
In this post, we will unpack eight beneficial ways keeping a journal is good for your mental health.
Declutter Your Mind
There are days when there is so much going on in my head that I often don’t know where to begin or what to think. I’ve always been a strong advocate in making a to-do list first and foremost though. It helps to focus my scatter-brained mind.
Writing in a journal allows the space to get things out of your head and down on paper, to make sense of them, and then work out how best to deal with them.
Looking Back in Laughter
As a youngster, I filled my journals with soul-searching questions like, “Does Jimmy fancy me?” or “Will my boobs ever grow?!”
Years later looking back at these journal teenage-brain entries, I chuckled at the sheer immaturity and then cringed about all the silly things I spent my time worried about. Even though at the time, they felt like the most important concerns on the planet.
Reading my teenage journals as an adult really puts life into perspective! And so thankful that I’m no longer a hormonal teenager.
Better Out Than In
Spilling your guts onto a crisp blank white page is very cathartic.
Suddenly, the things that may have been winding you up or getting you down are no longer the big scary beasts you might have let them become in your mind.
Boiling them down to simple harmless words on a page makes them less intimidating. So often, I always feel better getting the thoughts out of my head and onto the page.
A Chance to Focus
Writing your thoughts and feelings down on paper or typing them out on the computer screen can help you become more mindful of balancing positive and negative experiences.
Reflecting upon a situation helps you see more clearly about what you have learned or how you might behave differently next time.
You can also write down that killer line you wish you would have said to someone’s face. That’s sure to have you feeling better about getting stuff off your chest.
Improve Your Writing
Journaling encourages you to just write whatever comes to mind without editing. It is a very liberating experience!
Writing freely without hesitation or regard for all the grammar and punctuation rules will give you more confidence in your writing ability. This is how ideas are born! One small idea could lead to big changes.
Either way, nobody will ever have to read it. And you can achieve a great sense of purpose and connection with yourself and with your own thoughts and feelings.
Reach Your Goals
Whether it is to change your job, find love, or to cutback on sweets–writing down your intentions makes you more accountable in trying to achieve them.
Visualizing what you are aiming for is a great habit as well.
Take it one day at a time. Joint down some important goals with a specific timeline.
In addition, using your journal to record milestones along your life journey will also give you a sense of pride with the motivation to continue.
Thanks for the Memories
Your brain is able to absorb and process things better when they are written down.
With this in mind, recording things in your journal will help to file those things in your brain and make room for more!
Journals are a Girl’s Best Friend
When meeting up for a bottle of wine and a counseling session with a friend is not possible– being able to vent on paper can make all the difference with your mental health.
Then when we are all able to meet up again, you will be able to talk about more positive things!
Get started with your personal journaling journey today and take advantage of these eight beneficial ways to help keep you mentally healthy!
8 Reasons Why Keeping a Journal Benefits Your Mental Health
♥
By: Micaela Blitz
To say 2020 was a rubbish year would be putting it mildly!
Rolling into spring, hopefully 2021 is looking better for us all and less traumatizing.
My main New Year Resolution this year was to keep up with my journaling. Long before Bridget Jones started keeping a journal, I had one of my own.
As an angst-ridden teenager, I used a journal to record my innermost thoughts and feelings, as well as doodle the names of my latest crush or enemies. Even though I’ve worked through most of that teenage angst by now in life– I’ve long felt keeping a journal was great for my outlook on life and maintaining a positive attitude.
In this post, we will unpack eight beneficial ways keeping a journal is good for your mental health.
Declutter Your Mind
There are days when there is so much going on in my head that I often don’t know where to begin or what to think. I’ve always been a strong advocate in making a to-do list first and foremost though. It helps to focus my scatter-brained mind.
Writing in a journal allows the space to get things out of your head and down on paper, to make sense of them, and then work out how best to deal with them.
Looking Back in Laughter
As a youngster, I filled my journals with soul-searching questions like, “Does Jimmy fancy me?” or “Will my boobs ever grow?!”
Years later looking back at these journal teenage-brain entries, I chuckled at the sheer immaturity and then cringed about all the silly things I spent my time worried about. Even though at the time, they felt like the most important concerns on the planet.
Reading my teenage journals as an adult really puts life into perspective! And so thankful that I’m no longer a hormonal teenager.
Better Out Than In
Spilling your guts onto a crisp blank white page is very cathartic.
Suddenly, the things that may have been winding you up or getting you down are no longer the big scary beasts you might have let them become in your mind.
Boiling them down to simple harmless words on a page makes them less intimidating. So often, I always feel better getting the thoughts out of my head and onto the page.
A Chance to Focus
Writing your thoughts and feelings down on paper or typing them out on the computer screen can help you become more mindful of balancing positive and negative experiences.
Reflecting upon a situation helps you see more clearly about what you have learned or how you might behave differently next time.
You can also write down that killer line you wish you would have said to someone’s face. That’s sure to have you feeling better about getting stuff off your chest.
Improve Your Writing
Journaling encourages you to just write whatever comes to mind without editing. It is a very liberating experience!
Writing freely without hesitation or regard for all the grammar and punctuation rules will give you more confidence in your writing ability. This is how ideas are born! One small idea could lead to big changes.
Either way, nobody will ever have to read it. And you can achieve a great sense of purpose and connection with yourself and with your own thoughts and feelings.
Reach Your Goals
Whether it is to change your job, find love, or to cutback on sweets–writing down your intentions makes you more accountable in trying to achieve them.
Visualizing what you are aiming for is a great habit as well.
Take it one day at a time. Joint down some important goals with a specific timeline.
In addition, using your journal to record milestones along your life journey will also give you a sense of pride with the motivation to continue.
Thanks for the Memories
Your brain is able to absorb and process things better when they are written down.
With this in mind, recording things in your journal will help to file those things in your brain and make room for more!
Journals are a Girl’s Best Friend
When meeting up for a bottle of wine and a counseling session with a friend is not possible– being able to vent on paper can make all the difference with your mental health.
Then when we are all able to meet up again, you will be able to talk about more positive things!
Get started with your personal journaling journey today and take advantage of these eight beneficial ways to help keep you mentally healthy!
About author: Micaela Blitz
Micaela is from the UK. She is a TV Producer, Journalist, and Podcast Producer for How Many Producers.
She is passionate about stand-up comedy, writing, and dreams of writing a novel one day!
About author: Micaela Blitz
Micaela is from the UK. She is a TV Producer, Journalist, and Podcast Producer for How Many Producers.
She is passionate about stand-up comedy, writing, and dreams of writing a novel one day!
Instagram: @micaela_blitz
