It is now well known that keeping a daily journal has health benefits. Journaling includes writing down our spontaneous thoughts as and when they spring to mind. It’s one of the simplest habits we can develop, but which has lots of positive effects in our lives.
Here I have listed some of benefits of journaling that I have noticed over time.
Getting to know myself better
By writing about my true self, I uncover deeper parts of my soul. I have even found things I didn’t know existed in me – sometimes hidden desires and dreams, talents, fears or creativity.
Clarity
When keeping a journal, I free my mind, I let all thoughts out and that helps me make room for freedom and joy.
Writing is a creative process, but it also engages my brain – both the left and the right side.
Over time I have started solving my problems and I have got to know myself through writing.
Discipline
I am not in the mood to write, especially first thing in the morning or late at night. But once I’ve started developing this habit, I have persevered with it. I have noticed a general improvement in my willpower as I have built discipline. I don’t always write thoughts or what I have one. Sometimes it’s just a page full of mind mapping with words that float in an empty page. That is very useful to get the creative juice flowing. I often even scribble things or draw flowers or little faces.
I’ve become more expressive
By building the habit of sharing what’s on my mind every morning or evening or even during the day in a journal, I have learnt to be more open about my feelings, I’ve found the rights words to describe them, and even started understanding them better.
It helps me discover me creativity
Believe it or not, everyone has a creative genius within. It just needs to be unleashed. Journaling is a great way to improve the writing skills, generate more ideas and develop a better imagination. After a while I have noticed that words come easily and the process makes me live more passionately too.
This is a page from my diary. I was in the mood for colours and flower power ideas came to mind.
It makes me less anxious
When I put my negative emotions on paper, that helps me leave them behind and move on. And often, during the process of journaling, I have understood the origin of my fears, worries and doubts. It’s often been a relieving process. I have become better at thinking of ways to work on those issues so it doesn’t happen again. Especially during the pandemic journaling has helped me overcome isolation fears.
