If you look up journaling on Google, you’ll find a ton of sites highlighting different areas of the practice. Sites on how to start journaling. Encouraging stories of how it’s helped someone to cope with addiction. And all sorts of sites offering tips on how to keep the practice going.
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But why does journaling help?
In this article, we’ll take a look at journaling. What it is, some different forms of journaling used and reasons people start in the first place. And may be something will resonate with you and inspire you to start your own journaling journey!
What Is Journaling?
Journaling is a process of writing down your thoughts and feelings, often in search for more clarity or relief. Journaling can be a great outlet for stress and anxiety.
It’s also an opportunity to discover more about yourself. It can even help create and foster a deep relationship with one’s self, which can be as equally vital as relationships with friends and family.
Types Of Journaling
I don’t believe there is only one type of journaling that is right for any one person. Once I started journaling, I found several types helpful, depending on the circumstances. The important thing is to pick a style that works for you. Be open to trying different styles as well. The only wrong style is the one you don’t try.
Diary/Journal– When I think of this type of journal keeping, I think of the grade school child keeping a book with lock and key under the pillow. The “traditional” diary type journal is an opportunity to vent the inner most feelings, dreams and fears without sharing the vulnerabilities with anyone else.
Bullet Journals– Bullet journals are a great way of getting organized and extremely versatile. They can be used to focus on work, family, finances, mental health or any other area you may be looking to improve on. A whole community exists around bullet journal keeping, or “bujo”.
Free writing– Free writing can be extremely helpful if you feel overwhelmed and don’t know where to start. You basically write down what’s going through the mind at that particular time and let it just flow out. Either set a timer or decide on an amount of pages you want to fill out and simply write until the timer goes off or you filled the page.
Sketch/art journals-These can be great to nurture the creativity and give yourself another way to express yourself. May be words aren’t the strong point and communication comes easier through illustration. And maybe using sketches with words could open new doors for the individual.
One line journals– One line journals are straight and to the point. They may be the best approach for someone that is having a hard time with starting any type of journaling. Just write one entry per day. Something your grateful for, something positive that happened to you or something you tried. Even with one line a day, you’ll have something to look back on and learn after a month.
It’s also ok (and encouraged) to use a mixture or collaboration among the different types of journals to find the right style for you.
Types Of Journals
You can go crazy with the sheer amount of journals available out there. Truth is, a journal is appropriate for any part of your life.
Dream Journal- Dreams can be a gateway into unknown and unfamiliar areas of our lives. Dream journals are often kept by the bedside, ready to be written into as soon as you wake up so as not to forget the dream. Going back through the dreams can be both entertaining as wall as insightful
Meditation Journal- A meditation journal can be a great addition to your meditation practice. First, it can serve as a reminder to meditate for those who tend to easily get distracted. Leave it out as a reminder. When you wake up in the morning, make it the first thing you see. Second, it can also give you insight into your practice. You can actually see your perception change
Fitness Journal- Want to get in charge of a fitness routine? A fitness journal can help you keep track of so much concerning your health. Exercise, nutrition, calories and everything in between can be monitored. In all honesty, a fitness journal could be broken down to even more precise journals
Reading Journal- A reading journal can be a great way to get deeper into the item you’ve read and maybe discover multiple perceptions. A reading journal can be the own book club without the disappointment of others not attending or neglecting to read the material itself.
Gratitude Journal- Gratitude journals are a great way to remind yourself of what you have. So often, we get lost in thinking about what we want and therefore what we don’t have yet creating a mindset of lack. Writing just a few items for which we are grateful for having right now, however insignificant it may seem
And the possibilities don’t end there. Journals are perfect for tracking finances, ideas, projects, gardening and more! The truth is, you can create a journal to help navigate any area of your life!
Why Does Journaling Help?
There are some solid reasons why journaling can help.
Journaling can offer a sense of control when everything else feels out of control. It can help you prioritize the problems as well as the feelings of fear and worries. When you don’t know what the problem is, writing things down can help.
Over time, you’ll start to see things that set you off. Triggers. Journaling can help you recognize these triggers (If you’re paying attention) and maybe learn to avoid them.
Journaling can also be an opportunity to have an open, nonjudgmental conversation with yourself. Sometimes it can help to just say something and keeping a journal can be a way to express this.
It can help you asses, understand and even gain control the emotions, even if you don’t know what they are yet.
These are some pretty general reasons, but they all resonate with how journaling has helped me
Why I Journal (And You Should Too)
When I first started journaling, it was to sort out the congestion in my head. I really didn’t have anyone to talk to, so instead of continuing to keep everything to myself, I started to just write everything down. I would write down as much from the day I could remember (and tolerate) in every way I felt comfortable at the moment doing. It really helped me start to sort out not only my thoughts, but my emotions as well. (You always feel better after you’ve thrown up. I don’t think mentally is any different)
And now I look back on past journals and can see how I’ve grown. You don’t think you’re that different until you’ve had some insight into who you’ve been and journaling is the perfect way to bridge the unperceived into reality. With my journal, I know I’m growing.
Ready to start keeping your own journal? What type do you think you’ll try and in what area are you going to journal about? Please share below!
