Do you journal? Well, let me tell you exactly why you should be journaling and all the benefits I have sought from it.
Journaling has become a tool that I use whenever I feel stressed, overwhelmed, sad, angry… you know EMOTIONAL LOL. However, I also journal to write down memories, thoughts, and even letters to myself. It is a place where I can let anything out and then move on from it. Sort of like taking the trash out!
Why exactly do I journal?
I wouldn’t call my journals a diary, for two reasons. The first being I think of a diary where you write about the boy you have a crush on and how the girl in your chemistry class pulled your hair. I journal anything that comes to mind, but I try to focus on the positive and the important things. The second reason I don’t think about it as a ‘diary’ is because I don’t just have one journal. There is one that I write blog-related topics in, one I fill with just self-love (aka where I boost my self-confidence and can always go back and read when I am feeling down), and one that I write in religiously about anything.
I have noticed a massive shift in my mentality and staying positive since I have started journaling. I would also credit that to the awesome podcasts, books and inspirational people I follow online too.
How to start journaling 101
First, you need to buy a journal. Find one that appeals to you and makes you happy when you look at it. After you have your beautiful and aesthetically pleasing new journal (just kidding that’s my criteria) you need to get rid of the mindset that what you write in it needs to fit into a category.
I use to think my journals needed to be ‘pretty’ with cute polaroid’s and flowers from my first date saved in there but it made me so frustrated when it didn’t meet those standards. I suggest you have a journal that you do that stuff in but have another one where you can write and say whatever you want in. This is my advice, not saying if you don’t do this you are wrong, this is what has worked for me.
The journal that I write everything in is the one that is where I dump anything that is on my mind, or I need to say. If I am feeling like crap, I’ll write why. After I dump out all the information, I always end on a positive note, such as what I will do to fix the problem, affirmations, or a list of great things that have happened recently. I will also write a long bullet point list of all the good or bad events that have taken place recently, so I remember when I look back at it in the future.
I always write the date and a title at the top of the page. This is so helpful for later on when I am looking through my journal, and also helps avoid reading certain pages.
Why journaling can change your mindset
I find journaling to be so therapeutic and to be an amazing form of self-care. I get out everything that I am feeling healthily, and I don’t bottle it up. Journaling can be a fantastic tool if you don’t like to talk to others and would rather keep it all in. It sounds harsh, but I have realized that you can’t suppress everything, you need to let it out and deal with your sh*t. I find myself focusing on the important things when I journal. If I don’t feel it is necessary to write down, then it most likely is not that important. This helps me from focusing on things that don’t matter, and the negative.
Until next time, thanks for Hanging with Haley!
