Journaling can look many different ways and is one method of routinely checking in with yourself.
You may hear journaling being referred to in many different respects. There is bullet journaling, gratitude journaling, general dairy-type journaling, etc. At the core of this type of writing is simply that: writing. The goal of all types of journaling simply to get things written out physically, not just hovering around in your mind.
So, why journal?
Journaling can support mental health in that it provides a way for a person to express their thoughts in a private, safe, and creative way. From venting about a situation with a co-worker to describing how happy the book you just read made you, a journal can contain every thought, emotion, and experience, you have if you choose to record it. It is a great way to document your life and could be nice to look back on in the future.
How to start journaling.
It can be intimidating to start something new and especially when opening a brand new journal with all those blank pages, the first is always the hardest. When thinking about beginning journaling, think about if there is a reason you decided to begin this journey and write or draw about that. If there is not a reason, if it just felt like something you wanted to try, then start by doodling and/or writing about what is currently happening in your life.
Another way to start journaling that is a bit more structured is bullet journaling. Bullet journaling is a style of journaling that embraces mindfulness and intentionality to bolster productivity. The idea behind it is to get all your thoughts laid out onto the pages in order to visually see your goals, To-Do lists, schedules, and whatever else you want to add in.
Challenges are another concept to record in a journal and could also help you get the ball rolling on your new journaling adventure. An example of a challenge that a friend of mine partook in was a song/art challenge. She was given 30 types of songs and each day thought of a song that related to the prompt, listened to it, and painted her feelings about it. There are many other challenges like that out there, but for her, choosing one that incorporated two things she enjoys (listening to music and painting with watercolors) gave her a few minutes each day focusing on them.
The benefits of journaling are:
A journal is a way to be uniquely you.
Your journal is your personal space. Choose one that speaks to you or choose a plain one that you can then decorate to match your personality. Collage images on the cover, use bright colored pens to jazz up each page, or leave it plain because that is what feels right for you. Ultimately, a journal is a place for focusing on the self and you should engage in yours however works best for you.
