Journalling is a good way to reflect on your thoughts and emotions, as well as boosting creativity. Different people have different reasons for journalling, but the most common are: self-reflection, reflection of life events, mood improvement or increased creativity. There are also many benefits of journalling including improving mental health and wellbeing due to reduced stress levels. Journalling can be done anywhere at anytime, making journalling a versatile method for self-care.
Journalling can be a great habit to incorporate into your new years resolutions, so here are 21 tips to help get you started this year.
1. It is a great way to express your thoughts and feelings
It can help you to get in touch with your innermost thoughts and emotions, and can be a really effective way of boosting your mood and creativity. Sometimes we need time with our thoughts and feelings to understand what’s going on for us. Journalling allows you to dump everything out on a page so you don’t have to hold it in. Maybe you’re not ready to talk to someone about what’s going on for you, so journalling allows you the privacy to express what’s happening for you.
2. It's also a good way to get in touch with your creative side
It can help you think about things in an entirely new way, which can lead to creativity, breakthroughs and many other benefits. Many people enjoy drawing in their journals as a form of self expression, by practising your art and expressing yourself, you are able to tap into your creativity.
3. Journalling can be done anywhere, anytime-whether you're on the train, at work or even in bed before you go to sleep
Journalling can be done anywhere, anytime-whether you’re on the train, at work or even in bed before you go to sleep. This is great because it means that you always have the opportunity to reflect on your day and jot down your thoughts. Not only that, but journalling can also help to clear your mind before bed and promote better sleep quality. If you’re struggling with falling asleep because your mind in racing, writing everything out can help those thoughts slow down and stop running circles in your mind.
4. Journalling helps boost mood
Journalling helps you to get to know yourself better, learn how to manage stress and anxiety, and explore your emotions. Journalling isn’t only for those days where you’re feeling heavy and down. It can also be a space to reflect on your happiest memories or what you’re grateful for. Reading back those entries can help boost your mood on days you’re feeling low.
5. It can help you stay on track
If you’re someone who likes to set goals and track your progress, then journalling is a great way to do that. You can track your accomplishments, daily habits, next steps and thoughts on specific goals. This will help you stay on track and accountable as you always have a space to come back to when you’ve deviated from your goals.
6. It can help improve concentration
The more journalling you do, the more you’ll focus on what is important to you. Sometimes journalling can feel like a chore, but journalling can also help improve your concentration and creativity. Journalling can be a mindful expercise which overtime can help you improve your ability to conentrate on a single task. Studies show that people’s mood improves while journalling and journalling has been linked to increased self-esteem and decreased anxiety.
7. It is one of the most underrated methods for self-reflection
I’ve found that the journaling is one of best ways to reflect on your thoughts and emotions when you’re in a good mental state. When you have to confront your emotions when you’re feeling bad, journalling helps reflect on what’s happening in order to find solutions to work through or avoid them.
8. It has been shown to lower stress levels and increase happiness in people who practice it regularly
Journalling has been shown to lower stress levels and increase happiness in people who practice journalling regularly. Journalling releases endorphins, which are the hormones that make us feel good after a workout. Continue journalling for at least 20 minutes to see these benefits!
9. Start by picking up a journal and some pens
When it comes to journalling, the most important thing is to have the right supplies. This means having a good journal and some pens that you love using. I recommend picking up a journal that’s thick and has lined pages, so it’s easy to write in. As for the pens, go with something that makes you feel inspired and creative. It’s important to have some fun with it and find supplies that inspire you to write.
10. If you're not sure what to write about, try following a guided meditation or answer some questions about your day
- What do you want to focus on today?
- What were your favorite moments from today?
- Who did you spend time with today?
- How would you describe your mood now?
- What journalling methods work best for you, like voice journalling or written journalling (or both)?
11. Make sure to date your entries so you can look back later and see how far you've come
Journaling is a great way to get in touch with your innermost thoughts and emotions. The best journalling happens when you date your entries because you’ll be able to look back later and see how far you’ve come. This can be an empowering way to see your progress as sometimes we forget what it was like when we were first getting started with our goals.
12. It is an excellent way to practice mindfulness, so try setting aside five minutes at the beginning of your day for journalling
When you journal, you’re taking a few minutes to focus on your thoughts and feelings. One of the best things about journalling is that it’s a great way to practice mindfulness. When you journal, you’re taking a few minutes to focus on the present moment and what’s happening in your life right now. This can help you become more aware of your thoughts and feelings.
13. Try journalling about your dreams and goals for the future
This can help you stay motivated by journalling about your dreams and goals for the future. Journalling about your day-to-day is great, but journalling about future plans will help you feel in control of your life. Jot down any big decisions you’re unsure about and then review them again after a few months to see if they still seem like the right choices or not.
14. Some people find it helpful to keep a list of positive things they've done each day in their journal
One really convenient way to improve your life is through regularly expressing gratitude. Not only will it make you feel better as soon as you do it, but over time, the more grateful you become, the happier and healthier you’ll be.
15. It can also be a great way to deal with difficult emotions, such as anger or sadness
When you’re feeling angry, journalling can help you to express your thoughts and feelings in a safe and healthy way. This can help to reduce the intensity of your anger, and can also help you to come up with solutions to the problem that’s making you angry. Similarly, journalling can be a great way to deal with sadness. When you’re feeling sad, journalling can help you to reflect on the situation that’s making you sad, and can also help you to come up with ways to feel better.
16. It can also help you work through traumatic experiences or memories
Sometimes, it can be difficult to talk about these things with other people, but journalling allows you to express them in your own words. This can be really helpful in terms of healing and moving on from the trauma.
17. Be patient with yourself and don't expect to have perfect handwriting or to come up with something brilliant every time you sit down to write
One of the most important things to remember when you’re journalling is to be patient with yourself. Don’t expect to have perfect handwriting or to come up with something brilliant every time you sit down to write. The point is to simply express yourself, and over time, you’ll get better and better at it.
18. Most of all, enjoy journalling-the process is meant to be therapeutic, so don't stress yourself out about it!
The point is to simply express yourself, and over time, you’ll get better and better at it. Don’t expect to have perfect handwriting or to come up with something brilliant every time you sit down to write. One of the most important things to remember when you’re journalling is to be patient with yourself.
Journalling is one of the most underrated methods for self-reflection. It’s a great way to get in touch with your innermost thoughts and emotions, all while boosting your mood and creativity. Journalling is an art form that not only boosts personal growth but also fosters relationships among friends and family members who share their experiences too. Journallers often find solace from writing things down because it helps them come up with solutions more easily than if they were having a conversation about it out loud with someone else; therefore journalling makes us feel lighter!
Thank you for reading! I hope this article has inspired you to start journalling if you haven’t already.
Journalling can be a really beneficial practice, and I encourage everyone to give it a try. If you have any tips about journalling I’d love to hear it. Comment below or you can reach out on instagram via DM @ayeshanhem, facebook at @theayeshanhem or email me at contact@intuitiveconnectioncounselling.com
