Do you ever leave work physically drained, mentally exhausted, and struggling to find a way to process the events of the day? I know many people exercise or have a hobby to help them de-stress, but I typically choose unhealthy options such as ice-cream! While searching for healthier ways to unwind and process my day, I stumbled upon journaling. Journaling is a great way to relieve stress and gain clarity on your thoughts, feelings and ideas. As I researched journaling, I searched for answers to my basic questions: who, what, when, why, and how. Here are the answers I found:
The Basics of Journaling
Here are the basic questions and answers I discovered as I investigated journaling.
FINDING YOUR FREE TIME!
Make the most of your daily 15-minute downtime gaps and create free time for the things you love! Get your FREE copy today!
Who is journaling for?
Anyone can journal! Journaling is great for recording thoughts, ideas, feelings or memories.
What is journaling?
Journaling is simply writing down your thoughts, feelings or ideas in a diary or journal. It does not have to be complicated- all you need is a pen and paper. Journaling helps you process the day’s events and express your feelings and ideas. Writing your thoughts down can provide you with clarity on situations and how to best handle them.
When & Where to journal?
You can journal at anytime and anywhere! Try to journal at least 10 minutes each day. I recommend scheduling one of your POWER Pockets (15-minute downtime gap) to journal. Suggestions include journaling before you leave work for the day, during your train commute home, or while you are waiting to pick your child up from soccer practice.
The two main challenges I discovered for journaling was: 1) finding time to journal and 2) finding a quiet place to write. It’s often difficult to stop and take time out of your day to do something just for you. When you get home from work, you often have to do a plethora of tasks like cooking, cleaning, checking homework, and answering work emails! Hitting the pause button and taking a few minutes for yourself is hard, but very rewarding.
Finding a quiet place where you can write can be difficult too. Some of my favorite quiet times are sitting in my car in the parking lot, late at night after everyone is in bed, or even sometimes locked in the bathroom! Taking a few minutes each day to think, write and process the day’s events is valuable for your overall well-being.
Why journal?
Journaling has several health benefits. According to the University of Rochester Medical Center’s Health Encyclopedia, journaling can help you manage anxiety, control stress and improve your mood. Writing down your thoughts and ideas helps you process your feelings and can provide you with clarity on your problems. The act of getting the information out of your head and onto paper can help you unwind as well.
How to Journal?
Journaling is simple. Grab a pen and paper and start writing. You can even journal on your phone, tablet or computer if you prefer to type instead of write. Easily add some fun to your journaling time by using cute journals, colorful pens and pencils, stickers and other embellishments as you write down your thoughts and ideas.
Journaling does not have to be complicated or structured. Just start writing what is on your mind. If you prefer to have more structure, here are some ideas for journaling topics:
- The details of your day
- What is bothering you
- What you are excited about
- A special memory or funny thing that happened
- A problem that occurred today and the outcome. How could you change the outcome/situation next time?
- Outline a new project, goal or idea you have
- Brainstorm career goals
- Your hopes and dreams
- Your fears and how to overcome them
- Valuable lessons learned
If you are looking for a more focused journaling routine, there are numerous types of journals you can purchase that can help guide your writing. There are journals for pregnancy, goal setting, prayer, food, bible study, mental health, and bullet journals to name a few. A quick internet search will help you find exactly what you are looking for.
You can do this!
Writing down your thoughts, feelings and ideas can seem intimidating. But remember, your journal is private and just for you. You don’t have to share it with anyone. Don’t worry about grammar, spelling or punctuation. Just write what is on your mind. Journaling is meant to help you unwind, process your day, understand your feelings and provide you with clarity. Journal for a few minutes each day and see the difference it makes!
Need help finding time to journal? Learn how to find your time with this FREE guide! Opt-in below!
