Hey, y’all!! This post is gonna be shorter than most, but no less as important. So pull up a chair and let’s talk journaling.
I journal almost every day
I say almost because I’ve been slacking the last couple of days. It’s an interesting part of my routine, but sometimes life gets in the way. The irony is I started doing it to make sure my life didn’t go haywire. Because of that, the days I don’t do it really stand out.
Which is pretty hilarious when you think about it. Writing in a journal isn’t something monumental, innovative, or all-around game-changing. It’s literally just writing in a book once a day. So why does it have such an impact? There are a couple of things I’ve noticed.
It sets the tone for the day
I’m not saying that our days are gonna implode if we don’t journal. Just a guess, we but we wouldn’t have made it far as a species if that was the case. But I find that journaling in the morning definitely helps me frame my day around what I want.
I tend to end every entry saying “Today is going to be a good day” and my personal mantra. And I feel like that practice lets me orient myself for the day to come. Sure, problems might arise, but I’ve already mentally prepared myself and decided that no matter what happens, I won’t be stopped. I also begin each entry by listing my goals for the day, which leads to my next point.
It keeps us accountable
Like, writing my goals down for the day really makes me think about what I prioritize. What’s important to me? Then it makes me think about how I want to accomplish that.
In our society, we tend to run around from place to place like chickens with their heads cut off. We’re SUPER busy. But many times that busyness is imposed upon us by some outside force. And we never really stop to wonder if we actually want our rollercoaster looking lives. Just like with meditation, journaling can serve as a force to help us stop and consider what we want to live like, and then help us achieve that.
On top of that, we have a record of what we thought, felt, and tried to accomplish in your journal. So we can utilize that to make sure we stay on track with any changes in our lives and priorities and make sure we’re on the right path.
It can help us solve problems
We already discussed the goal setting and planning aspect of journaling. But being able to articulate your thoughts on paper can really shine a light on issues. There’s really a difference between thinking about a problem and then taking that same problem and physically manifesting it. There’s a reason why so many notable people journal(ed). Some people get massive insights into issues they’re facing, while some just have a clearer picture of what’s happening.
I tend to journal using the stream of consciousness style. It’s pretty wild how many insights and connections we can find when you’re not trying to dictate we writing. Some of the most random stuff comes together to really produce some cool results. It really gets those creative juices flowing.
It helps us deal with our emotions
There’s a type of therapy called journal therapy where a subject writes in a journal daily about their feelings. This technique draws about what I mentioned about problems and how getting them out there can help us figure them out. It’s the same thing with our feelings. This is ESPECIALLY effective if we’re not participating in therapy or talking to people.
The main thing for me is that seeing what we’re thinking about from a stream of consciousness perspective is very enlightening. And being able to make connections and gain insight into our psyche is infinitely valuable. Journaling can serve as a way for us to more clearly determine what we feel, why we feel it, how it affects our behavior, and so much more. It’s an incredibly versatile practice that has so many benefits. So adopting journaling into our self-care routines, if it’s not already, is a simple but effective way to affect massive change throughout our lives. Grab yourself a notebook today and happy journaling!
Thanks for talking humans with me today. I would love to hear about your journaling routine!! Drop a comment below. Don’t forget to subscribe and share. Catch y’all next week! Peace!!
I’ve tried and failed at journaling so many times 😂 I don’t know what it is about it or why I can’t stick with it. But I always thought it was a really cool way to see all your thoughts on paper. I always felt like people who journal seem like they have a real good hold on things.
Hey Akilah, thanks for reading!! Trust me, I get it. I tried journaling all through high school and college, but I could never actually successfully keep up the habit until recently. I think that the keys to staying with it are 1) scheduling a time for it, since that means you know when you’re gonna do it 2) doing it in the same place every day, so your mind builds a mental association that when you’re in this place, you’re journaling and 3) doing a format that works for you, cause if you don’t enjoy it, then you probably won’t stick with it. That’s not to say that it won’t be uncomfortable at times, but as with the gym, the is no growth without struggle. Either way, journaling is definitely a good way to work through things, especially in conjunction with meditation.
Pingback: Let's Talk Lifestyle: Consistency - Let's Talk Humans