How Journaling can help you.
Journaling can be used in so many ways, whether it is a creative outlet or an emotional release, journaling is a powerful self-improvement tool that anyone can use. There have been many influential people throughout time who has detailed their lives in journals - the struggles, the joys, the steps taken to reach their dreams. In the end, journals can tell life stones, which helps us to understand breakthrough moments in the creative process, change habitual patterns, and track goals.
Journaling is not to be confused with writing in a diary. Diary writing is often a record of your everyday life as it happens, while journal writing is a method to explore and shape ideas. Using a journal can involve more than writing and it doesn’t have to be a linear process - even the pages doesn’t need to be dated.
Journal writing is also known as journal therapy, this is because it has many benefits. These includes:
Reduced stress.
Reduced anxiety.
Improved mental clarity.
Increased understanding of self.
Improved problem solving skills.
Journaling can be used in a variety of ways, it all depends on what your goals are. Using a journal is helpful whether you are an artist brainstorming your next project or just a busy school teacher who needs to let off some steam!
Journal therapy’s main purpose is to focus on internal experiences rather than to repress or ignore them. Some different methods of journaling are:
Journaling for healing
This method of journaling is beneficial to anyone recovering from physical or mental health issues. It has been proven to be an effective tool in helping those undergoing cancer treatment to deal with the effects of severe illness and going through recovery. Journaling can also help with depression and anxiety, as a means to process negative emotions. There have been studies showing 15 minutes of journal writing 3-5 times a week improves the mood of those suffering from mental health issues.
Journaling for Stress relief
Writing down your thoughts and feelings in a journal allows you to process stress from work. relationships, or other pressures you may be experiencing. How we write in our journal makes a big difference. When we recount negative experiences it allows us to deal with them in a healthier way. One way to do this is to go beyond the emotions entangled with what has happened. Be objective about the experience and write down your thoughts to release the associated stress.
Dream Journaling
If you would like to learn more about your dreams and subconscious, then starting a dream journal is the way to go. This daily practice works by recording your dreams immediately upon waking - when they are fresh in your minds eye. Through this practice, you will begin to notice reoccurring themes than can provide insight into your psyche.
Creative Journaling
For those of you who are the creative types, journaling is more than just making sentences on paper. It is a way to let ideas out and is often one of the first steps in a project. Building structure into a creative process helps artists to problem solve, organise, and discern various thoughts - from simple to complex. Using journal therapy in a creative process is helpful in breaking down complex ideas into something more tangible, so that small steps can be made towards a larger project.
Journaling for your Career
You do not have to be creative to keep a journal. It us also beneficial for tracking progress at work. In a career journal, you will be able to create a list of goals, tick-off your accomplishments, and take notice of any mistakes you have made along the way. These mistakes will make you stronger as you will work out a way to avoid the.
At this time with being in lockdown, many of us might feel lost without any motivation or plans for the future (I know I am), writing a journal about our thoughts and our future plans will help us all greatly. Whether your self-employed and are making plans for improvements in the business or those who want to progress up the ladder in their work. Now is the time to keep focus and write them down
I personally have been struggling with sleep, not knowing when I can get back to work and earn money. I am planning on writing a journal at the end of the day to get the thoughts down and business plans down so that they are not floating around inside my head. Hopefully than I can get more sleep and more focus.
Sending lots of virtual hugs and positivity
Rachel x