Experts say that journaling can boost your wellness and mental health effectively, and it is pocket-friendly 😉. All you need is a pen and a notebook!
By: Aya Alqarout
We all have those days; Days when you want to talk, scream, express, and share what happened to you without restraint. Days where you feel that you want to conjure up what happened to you on that day when you were so happy or on that other day when you broke down in tears. I’ve got your back, girl! No worries, today I’ll share with you one of the most powerful and pocket-friendly ways to make sense and give value to everything happening around you!
JOURNALING! The magic that journaling has is like no other, but to get that magic, get yourself ready to read some deep things about journaling and how it helps you take good care of yourself, your wellness, and health.
Journaling is self-care customized specifically for you, sis! So grab on to this opportunity!
Journaling is the recording of your thoughts and feelings on a day-to-day basis. Journaling is the ‘write’ tool for self-care and it harmonizes in controlling your emotions! Simply, by writing, you can become self-aware about several things and make history. Then, who knows, your journal might be a best-seller, girl😉. Developing a journaling habit can help you work through your emotions, especially when you’re feeling anxious or sad. It can also help you grow, become more self-aware, and gain meaningful insights.
Based on your needs, preferences, and personality, you can customize your own journaling journey. This gives you the freedom to journal in your own way, using any form you like, and for whatever reason you want.
One day, journaling could be a record of the events that happened in your day. The next day, it can be a text that is written creatively by you to process the events that happened in your day or life and what you are grateful for. According to research published in 2021 by the University of New England in Australia, practicing gratitude can improve mental health and help combat the unfavorable cognitive patterns that depression causes. A gratitude journal entry might be all you need to fight anything that will stop you from rising and shining! A journal can also be a list of goals you want to achieve. We’ve all heard it at some point: writing down your goals increases your chances of success by 42%. So why not keep a journal and join the Girls Grow Club vibes?
Discovering a healthy technique to express yourself is one of the strategies to cope with any intense emotion. As a result, keeping a journal might be useful for maintaining your mental health. You may cope with sadness, manage stress, and worry by keeping a journal. Keeping a journal might help you figure out what’s making you anxious or agitated when you have an issue. Once your stressors have been recognized, you may develop a strategy to deal with the issues and lessen your stress.
Let’s talk about experts and studies.
There has been an evidence-based study on the relationship between recording stressful life events and beneficial physiological changes for 25 years. These advantages may include improved immune system performance, a lessening of illness symptoms, and a sense of relief from upsetting prior experiences.
It turns out that journaling has the same effect that eating healthy and exercising have! In a 2018 Cambridge research paper, participants were invited to write about the most difficult or disturbing incidents in their life, expressing their deepest thoughts and emotions. Four months later, individuals who spent 15 minutes a day writing about their experiences reported fewer medical visits and sick days.
Not only is keeping a diary associated with a long-term decline in health issues, but it also speeds up your recovery. Another study discovered that older people’s expressive writing accelerated the healing of wounds. Another study in 2006 by Stice, Burton, Bearman, and Rohde found that journaling can be as helpful as cognitive-behavioral therapy in lowering the risk of depression in young adults.
Do you feel it yet, boss babe? Let’s get you ready for this journey with some tips on journaling.
There are several suggestions for creating a journaling routine. Select a frequency and duration that are suitable for you. While some individuals journal every day at the same time, others only do it when they have a particular subject or challenging circumstance they want to write about or work through. Be patient, don’t judge, and give yourself some time. You’ve got this girl! Starting a journal might at first seem scary. It takes some time until it becomes a routine part of your lifestyle, just like any other habit.
The conventional way to keep a journal is to write using a pen and paper, but there are several other approaches to journaling. Some individuals favor using a computer. If you are an auditory person, using a voice memo to record your ideas occasionally might be helpful. A gratifying alternative is to keep an art journal for doodling or drawing.
Still feeling hesitant and unsure of what you would like to write about? I still have your back, sis! Here is a list to start your journaling journey:
- For what do you feel grateful today?
- What difficulties are you now facing in your life?
- What is the best decision that you’ve ever made?
- What are your objectives for the upcoming week?
- What were your best and worst days ever?
- Describe a childhood memory that had a significant influence on you.
- What is a memory that you want to relive?
- What would you do if you had no commitments or limitations for tomorrow?
- In five years, where would you like to be?
Did you already get your pen and notebook or computer/phone or memo? You have 1 minute, shake-a-leg boss babe!
Until our next blog, lots of support for your journaling process 😊.
