What is Journaling?

What is Journaling?

Journaling is writing down, drawing or recording your thoughts and feelings to gain a better understanding of yourself. Journaling gives clarity and assists with the healthy expression and release of thoughts and emotions to improve body, mind and spirit.

Benefits of Journaling

• Reduce stress and anxiety – negative thoughts can get stuck on a loop in your head, writing them down can release them and break the pattern, it also gives you the opportunity to look at them from a different perspective.
• Recognise triggers – tracking daily activities and actions can help you become aware of negative triggers, that you can then take action to eliminate.
• Find inspiration – let your imagination go wild, as you write, speak or draw your creativity can flow freely, let the infinite possibilities unfold.
• Achieve goals – write down specific goals for accountability and as a reminder of the actions needed to achieve your goals.
• Reflect on achievements – look back at past entries and see the progress and growth you have made.
• Gain self-confidence – acknowledge the challenges and experiences you have faced and surpassed.
• Improve your memory – writing something down lets your brain know you want to remember it.
• Self-care – journaling is a self-care practice, make your health and wellbeing a priority. 

How to Journal

Tools needed - Pick the tools that suit you best, you have many choices. To write you can use pen, pencil, crayon, colour pencil pick your favorite. You can use paper, notepad or journal whatever you have available. If you don't like to write use audio, try smartphone voice memos to record your journaling.

• Be prepared – Have your journaling tools ready in a convenient location to access when needed.
• Routine – try to develop a daily routine, consistency and practise give the best results.
• Time – you need time to yourself with no interruptions, just a couple minutes a day or as long as you need.
• Space – Find a comfortable, soothing place to do your journaling.
• Do it your way – this is your journal there is no right or wrong way to do it, relax and enjoy the process.

Types of Journals

• Release journal – Letting the thoughts and emotions flow, they do not need to make sense, spelling and grammar don’t need to be correct. It’s about getting the thoughts and emotions out and releasing the energy.
• Dream journal – capturing your dreams as soon as you wake up to have an insight into your subconscious.
• Gratitude journal – each day list everything you are grateful for in your life, increasing awareness and mindfulness.
• Diary journal – writing about your daily experiences and activities, is a record of your life journey.
• Fitness/Food journal – Keep a daily track of the food you eat and the exercise you do to improve your health.

You can start experiencing the benefits of journaling now! Download this FREE PDF Digital Journal that I created for you, it includes a daily journal plus a monthly preview and monthly review. 

- Click HERE for free download

There are many beautiful journals available for purchase if you want, however a plain piece of paper will work well also. Make journaling a fulfilling experience, how and why you journal is your choice. Enjoy!