The Benefits of Journaling
Journaling has been with us for hundreds of years, but don’t think that makes it quaint. It is a means for excising the mind and soul. Hey, Oprah does it!
What is journaling? It is the simple act of cutting out some time each day to write down pretty much whatever you like. Most people try to keep a record of their daily activities, interactions and how they feel about those when taking a moment to reflect on them.
The benefits of keeping a personal journal are many. First and foremost, a journal is your private domain. It is your platform to say what you want and express how you really feel with any consequences. If you are angry at a loved one, boss or whomever, you can express it without fear of that person finding out. Creating an outlet for stress is reason enough by itself to keep a journal. Stress can slowly kill you, which means venting is a valuable tool.
So, how do you go about journaling? The first step is to get one. I prefer lined versions, but you can pick whatever you are comfortable. Once you have the journal, you need to get started. This, ironically, is often the hardest part for most people.
To start journaling, ask yourself some basic things. You might start with questions like what thing happened during the day that annoyed you the most? Who did you enjoy spending time with and who did you try to avoid? With your job, what did you enjoy the most and what drove you nuts? What is the best time of your day and what is the worst?
There is no “right” way to keeping notes in your journal. Do what works for you. The key is simply to get started. After a few weeks, you’ll get a rhythm going and naturally start righting on the key subjects in your life without really realizing what you are doing before it happens.
There is a second value to keeping a journal you need to keep in mind. The journal is a running record of your life. Every once in a while, it makes sense to take some time out and review what you’ve written over the last month or two. You’ll be surprised. Trends and habits you might not like will stick out. You can then take steps to correct them moving forward or perhaps go back and apologize to someone that you might have had a blow up with over something stupid.
All and all, keeping a journal is a good way to keep your head on straight. If nothing else, it gives you a few minutes of peace each day to collect your thoughts and take a deep breath.
Rick Chapo writes about journaling for NomadJournals.com – makers of writing journals for preserving your life experiences.
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Journal Lined
Journal Lined
Journal Lined