Why You Should Journal!

The Rise of Journaling

While journaling has always been a common practice, it has become increasingly popular among young women in particular. The ‘it girl’/'that girl' aesthetic has been trending on TikTok for quite some time, revealing how to have a healthy lifestyle. One habit that is repeatedly mentioned is journaling. 

What is Journaling?

Journaling is the practice of expressing emotions, thoughts, and experiences through writing. It can be done on paper, in a notebook or diary, or even digitally. There are various methods of journaling, making it a versatile and unique experience for all. The practice has a range of benefits for both mental health and personal growth and is even said to enhance creativity. 

My experience 

My best friend got me into journaling during a hard time. She asked if I ever considered journaling to help ease my anxiety and improve my mental health. At the time, I believed that writing about my feelings could not possibly be the answer to my problems.

 

I was wrong.

 

My friend bought me a journal that weekend, and, at first, I was hesitant to write in it. I truly did not believe writing would help. However, after an unpleasant day, I sat out on my balcony and decided to give it a try. I wrote about the events of my day; what triggered me, what had upset me, and what made me smile. Surprisingly, I felt free. Free of the built-up anger, worries, doubts, and fears.

Journaling has now become my greatest outlet when feeling stressed, depressed, or uneasy. It has allowed me to recognize that a majority of my negative emotions stem from overthinking, and not letting these feelings surface. This safe, written expression of my thoughts and feelings has provided me with the ability to process my emotions. It is now an integral practice in my life!

Benefits of Journaling

The practice of regular journaling has been proven to have many benefits, including;

  • Improves mood and well-being by

    • Reducing stress and anxiety 

    • Helping to cope with depression 

  • Develops personal growth by

    • Being able to reflect and learn from past experiences

    • Addressing your feelings and providing you with the ability to work through them

  • Enhances creativity by

    • Tracking unique thoughts and ideas

    • Engaging your brain’s creative side

  • Improves writing skills by

    • Having a regular practice

  • Helps to achieve goals by

    • Having a clear path on what you are wanting to achieve

    • Keeping a record of achievements

  • Boosts memory by

    • Allowing for reflection 

    • Increasing brain activity through handwriting, thoughts, and notes

How to Journal

There is no right or wrong way to journal. Methods and techniques vary from one person to another. However, if you are looking at starting journaling and are at a lost on how, here are a few common journaling techniques to get you started:

  • Prompts are an easy way to start journaling. Common prompts include

    • ‘What fulfills you?’

    • ‘What are three things that you love most about yourself?’

  • Gratitude Journaling can be similar to using prompts, but this technique specifically explores what you are grateful for. Some prompts to start with include:

    • ‘What are 3 things you are grateful for?’

    • ‘Who is someone that made you smile today?’

  • A Daily Log is a simple journaling technique where you recount the events of your day and reflect on them. You can go deeper by asking yourself questions such as

    • ‘What made me happy today?’

    • ‘What upset me today?’

    • ‘Who is someone that had an impact on your life today?’

  • Dream Journal is used right after awakening to recount dreams. Ways to dream journal include:

    • Writing down the events you recall from the dream

    • Asking yourself why you may have dreamt of such events

  • Morning Pages are a journaling technique used right after waking, where you write all of the thoughts that consume you. This helps to better clear your mind for the day ahead. You can start morning pages by:

    • Writing as soon as you wake up!

    • Writing every thought that comes to mind

  • Spiritual Journaling is a practice used to connect yourself with God. It can be done by:

    • Writing out your thoughts after reading parts of the Bible

    • Writing out prayers

Again, journaling varies from person to person, but most importantly; it is a healthy practice that can be done at any time and anywhere. Find what works best for you – that is what makes journaling incredibly unique and versatile!

Written by Lianna Davidson, Photographer: Grace Weng, Social Media: Camila Ponce

A-Line Magazine