Journaling and Mental Health

Have you considered journaling but just don't know how to start?  Journaling has been known to have positive effects on mood and helps to improve feelings of well-being and self esteem.  If you are considering journaling, keep reading to learn more about its many benefits and learn how you can start journaling today.  

Why Journal?

Keeping a journal can improve your mood and overall well-being.  Journaling gives you a private space to get your feelings off of your chest.  These can be positive feelings or negative feelings.  Either way, journaling provides an outlet to express your emotions without having to suppress them.  Journaling can also be great if you're shy or introverted and simply don't like telling other people about your struggles.

How to Journal

Many people simply grab a notebook and pen and start writing whatever comes to mind.  You can journal about the positives of your day and reflect on those events.  Or you can follow journaling prompts.  Journaling prompts are questions that you answer and reflect on in your journal.  You can find journaling prompts, here, here and here.  

Say What's On Your Mind

Sometimes life feels stressful or overwhelming. You might feel anxious, sad, angry or other “negative” feelings, but you don't want to vent to your friends or family.  Journaling allows you to express anything openly without judgment.  Write down all your uncensored thoughts, list everything that's bothering you or making you upset. Getting those feelings out of your head can feel very relieving. Seeing it all in writing helps you process emotions in a healthy way as well.

Write Letters You Won't Send

Here is another way you can use journaling and reap its benefits.  Say you have an issue with someone and for whatever the reason may be, you can’t communicate that issue to them.  These unresolved problems tend to weigh heavy on us.  Oftentimes writing them a letter (that you don't send) explaining your thoughts and feelings can be helpful to what you are feeling and can feel calming/relieving.

Conclusion

Journaling as a way of expressing your emotions can be extremely beneficial and positive to your overall well-being and mental health.  Journaling also gives you a private space to process feelings that you might not be ready to talk about yet. If you feel that you may benefit from talking to someone about the feelings that you are feeling, feel free to contact me for a free consultation today.