Benefits of Journaling

Journaling is a great tool for improving our mental health and wellbeing.  There are many different benefits of journaling, here are some of the most common ones that come from a regular journaling practice.  

Self-Reflection

Life is busy, so often we go from day to day without taking a moment to pause and check-in with ourselves.  Journaling gives us the opportunity to take time for reflection and review our life, our health, what is working well and what isn't.  While you can reflect without journaling, it can be easy to get distracted or feel bored and move on to another activity.  Journaling helps with reflection by having the page to focus on and the physical act of writing as part of the process.  Journaling is a great tool to have as part of your wellness journey.  

Process thoughts and emotions

Journaling can help process thoughts and emotions.  We may not always feel comfortable sharing everything with someone else, even a loved one.  A journal is a place where you can be completely unfiltered.  Often times the act of writing helps us uncover things from our subconscious and bring them to the surface.  It can feel cathartic to write through a challenging time.  Alternatively, it can be a wonderful way to commemorate something positive.    

Identify patterns

By reviewing journal entries across time you can identify patterns that you may not otherwise be aware of.  Being aware and having knowledge is the first step in making changes in our lives.  Suddenly we may recognize a coping mechanism, an unhealthy habit, a relationship that is no longer serving us.  By being aware of our patterns we can then make decisions on how we want to move forward in life.

Understand Progress

Journaling is a great way to track the progress we are making in life.  Through reviewing journal entries we can see what positive steps we have taken in life and how those results have manifested in our life.  You can even see something that you had wanted previously has now manifested in your life.  Or see how things have shifted now that you have gotten the new home / job / partner, etc.    

Flexible Options

Journaling is highly personal, you can decide if you want to journal regularly (e.g. daily or weekly) or decide if you want to do it on a one-off basis as needed.  Choose the option that is right for you, what's most important is that you journal when you needed it the most.  There is no right way to journal, do that works for you and what you are willing to commit to.