February 11, 2022 | LIFE | By Mahnoor Rehman | Illustration by Kira Schulist
It might seem strange at first to record your daily activities inside a journal. Some people think it is bizarre to write specific and seemingly irrelevant details about your day. However, this article will take you on a ride to help understand the benefits of journaling every day.
To put it simply, journaling involves writing feelings and thoughts on a piece of paper. It is an act through which you can have a vision of your thoughts and see them transparently. This can support you through the many processes of self-reflection and allow you space to revive yourself as you gain control of your emotions.
Journaling is recommended to people who struggle with issues related to mental health. It has a way of reducing anxiety: it calms your mind and helps you escape from the thoughts of your daily life or problems that have been revolving around your mind. Furthermore, it does wonders in decreasing your stress levels. You get rid of your negative thoughts on the paper in front of you. After you write them down, they are not living inside your body, constantly rotting your creative energy.
If you are someone who deals with insecurities and self-doubts, journaling can be a beneficial hobby to release those negative sentiments out of your body. It is an amazing task to perform at the end of the day. You can list fears and concerns of that day and make a plan so as to achieve something new tomorrow. As it is a daily practice, you can take baby steps. Your achievements can be small acts of improvements rather than far-fetched goals that bring you peace and contentment.
Another remarkable benefit of journaling is self-awareness. When you start writing about your day and how you have been dealing with different situations, it allows you to learn new things about yourself. You can figure out the practices that are favorable for you and discard the unhealthy patterns of your life.
Journaling doesn’t have to be restricted to writing. It can also be painting or drawing on a piece of paper. You can always be creative with the way you want to express yourself. There is no correct way to journal.
Although a lot of the time it is recommended to journal at the end of the day, you can also keep a journal and a pen with you throughout the day. Feel free to write whenever you feel like you want to record, recap, or process those thoughts and emotions that are happening at a certain moment.
Journaling should not feel like a formal responsibility, but instead be an act of self-care and self-love that you actually enjoy. Your journal is your own private space where you can be vulnerable. It is a rewarding act of self-reflection. It helps you discover some sort of peace in the midst of chaos. It is a healthy way of treating your mental health with kindness and is always an option that you can use for self-care.