When it comes to journaling, I’ve always found it as a hit or miss thing. Some people love it and find it incredibly helpful in their lives. Others feel like it’s just not their thing and don’t enjoy it. Personally, I’m a journaling type of person. And I get if it’s not someone else’s outlet. Maybe you finding running, painting or some other activity fits better into your life. But in the spirit of trying new things, let’s talk about 5 reasons to try journaling this month.
Get it off your mind
As much as I’d love to say I journal daily, I really don’t these days. I’ve gone through phases of life where my journal was a daily part of my routine. But for me, writing is how I process things. My thoughts tend to be a bit of a hamster wheel. Getting them on paper helps me create a more linear thought process and helps me to move past it. If I find I’m thinking circles around one particular idea or problem, I’ll journal out my thoughts. Suddenly it’s no longer just something bouncing in my head and I can now lay it to rest for the time being. If you struggle with restless thoughts at night, I’d highly recommend keeping a journal next to your bed. Giving yourself the outlet of paper can help you finally relax. And if you’re worried about forgetting, you’ll know that it’s there in the morning to pick back up again.
It helps you go back in time
These days I feel like everyone is in therapy. And there’s no reason to be ashamed. It’s incredibly brave when someone asks for help. But more than once in the last few years, I’ve seen how helpful journaling has been for my friends seeking that help. Maybe they thought there was a sudden problem but months of journaling helped them to see it actually had a trigger. Or maybe something has been building for a while but it’s so many little things it’s hard to see the big picture. Journaling can help you look back and fill in the gaps you missed. Whether it’s mental or physical health, having a raw recording of your thoughts can help solve problems you didn’t know existed.
Learn about yourself
I’m not a massive fan of food journals. I’ve found that over time it can be just as bad as calorie counting for some people. But the thing I enjoy about using them from time to time is seeing the habits you didn’t realize you’d developed. The same can be said for friendships and relationships. Giving yourself the space to be unfiltered and real with your life can help give you the perspective you need on everything. Maybe you think that you and your partner are on the same page but your journal shows that you’ve been unhappy for months. A journal is a great way to help you see the things you don’t want to see. Whether that’s realizing you’re eating entirely too much sugar on a regular basis or that your friendship has become toxic, journaling gives you perspective on your life in a way you might not see otherwise.
It’s a judgment free zone
As a writer, I’m always thinking through my words. I know that the right sentence and word choice can convey a lot. So the best part of journaling is that I have a place to speak my peace without judgment. There are times where instead of picking the fight or having the conversation angry, I’ll opt for my journal first. I can unleash all my frustrations without having to worry about the judgment on the other side. This might mean a place for you to dream without someone pushing their doubts on you. Or maybe it’s a place to express your worries that you just aren’t ready to share. Journals are great for giving you the space and time to think through something without the added judgment & pressure.
It can help you get organized
I’ve been a bullet journal fan for the last year. As blogger/content creator, I’ve found it’s extremely helpful to have a bullet journal to keep me organized. Whether it’s finding a space to do my meal prep or keeping a daily to do list, journalinghelps me get everything done. On the day this post is going live, my week has taken a bit of a crazy turn. My spaced out todo list has gotten more of a time constraint. But it’s never made me more grateful for my bullet journal*. Journaling helps me keep track of the priority tasks and time frames in which I need to get things done. Plus it can double as a daily journal if you want to keep things all in one place.
Whether you’re a journal junkie or just looking to try something new this month, I hope today’s post helps. And if you are a journal person, I’d love to know how you use it? Be sure to leave me comment below and let me know.
