Importance of Journaling

"I just need a moment to vent"

It's not simply a new wellness fad.  Journaling can be for any occasion, any person, or any day. There’s misconceptions around journaling that it’s something we only do in times of high stress or it’s something only women do to manage their emotions. Both of those statements couldn’t be far from the truth. Pen-to-paper type journaling will be our focus in this post.

Here Are Some Reasons To journal 🤍:

~ to set goals and release them into the universe.
~ to write recipes, poetry, movie scripts, comics, etc.
~ to set your intentions for a new project or idea.
~ for ritualistic burnings.
~ keep track of personal growth.
~ relieve stress and self-reflect.
~ to clear your mind of anything.
~ make connections between your realities.
~ document affirmations and free flowing thoughts.
~ write down new experiences and adventures.
~ make sense of epiphanies and serendipities.
~ write down what you’re grateful for and all of your blessings.

Benefits of Journaling 🤍:

most extensively documented by University of Texas social psychologist James W. Pennebaker.

~ Journaling can be a form of creative expression.
~ Helps you to mentally unpack each day.
~ Boost memory 
~ Increased mindfulness and awareness
~ Improves sleep 
~ Reduces stress
~ Improved communication skills 
~ More self-confidence
~ Higher IQ
~ Reflection and Interpretation of 'self'.
​~ Helps you explore, feel, and label your emotions

Tips To Get Started ​🤍:

Choose Your Medium 
To minimize distractions and adopt an unhurried approach, I recommend starting with a physical notebook rather than a digital log. There are religious journals, mindfulness journals, creative journals, do your research to know which is best for you.

Establish a Routine
Although Pennebaker argues you don’t need to write every day to reap the benefits, I tend to write before bed to clear my mind and prepare my body for rest. Keep your journal in a private but easily accessible place, and try to write at the same time of day. 

Empty Your Mind
One of my favorite things to do with my journal. It can get pretty cluttered uptop. It allows me to tap into a stream-of-consciousness when writing: no censoring, editing, or overthinking. etc. Just flow. I don't recommend a format or structure for brain dumping. Just let your thoughts run wild. Sometimes I even scribble or draw pictures when words don't make sense in that moment. Well-crafted sentences and proper punctuation have their place; your journal isn’t it. Sit down with no expectations. Nobody—not even you—has to read what you write. 

I've been journaling since middle school. I used to create my own journals using construction paper, notebook paper, and yarn. However you choose to journal, make it personal and sacred. I personally don’t re-read my journal entries, especially if I release something traumatic onto those pages. No need to re-live what I purposely removed from my brain, you know? But on the other hand, I revisit pages filled with ideas & epiphanies. ✨ What do you journal? I'd love to hear about it in the comments below!

Till Next Time,
Chérie Jade

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