Growing up I think many children had diaries. It was always fun to have that diary that had its own lock and key. There was something exciting in keeping secrets locked away in a place that felt safe. As adults, many of us have continued this practice of journaling and seem to experience benefits. However, do we really know just HOW beneficial journaling is?
BENEFITS OF JOURNALING
Clarify your thoughts and feelings: Sometimes it can be difficult to identify how you are feeling. You may feel all jumbled up inside and have trouble getting a clear thought. Journaling can help you identify feelings and make better sense of what is going on internally.
Know yourself better: Writing on a regular basis helps you to get more in tune with what makes you happy. You are able to identify things or people in your life that are unhealthy. This can have a positive impact on your emotional well-being.
Reduce stress: When you write about feelings, such as anger, sadness, and other painful feelings, it takes away the intensity of the feelings. You will be able to practice mindfulness better and find a sense of serenity.
Solve problems more effectively: Journaling can bring together the right hemisphere of the brain; responsible for creativity and intuition, with the left hemisphere of the brain; responsible for analytical perspective. This helps you find solutions you may never knew existed!
Resolve disagreements with others: Writing about disagreements may help you to understand the other person’s point of view. Writing can help you sort out the information, so you are able to come up with a way to resolve the conflict.
There are many benefits to journaling. The above-mentioned benefits are only the tip of the iceberg. Brain science has shown that journaling helps the brain to process information differently and has many health benefits for the brain and a person’s physical and mental health.
Having trouble getting started? There are many ways to start journaling, including journal prompts!! Have you tried journaling? How has it helped you?
Reference: Purcell, M. (2020). The health benefits of journaling. Retrieved from: https://psychcentral.com/lib/the-health-benefits-of-journaling/