If you’ve been researching self-care practices (see last week's blog post), you may have come across something known as therapeutic journaling. But what is his type of journaling, exactly, and what can it do to improve your mental, emotional, and even physical health?
Journaling, at its core, is the regular practice of writing down experiences, thoughts, and feelings. Many of my clients have insights and breakthroughs outside of our sessions by journaling. Journaling can also be adapted to whatever your specific needs or goals may be. For example, many people find that Gratitude Journaling, ie listing the people and things that they’re thankful for helps them become happier overall. Another popular approach is bullet journaling, which typically involves listing short- and long-term goals, daily tasks, reminders, and observations.
The Many Benefits of Journaling
Journaling offers numerous benefits for your mind and body. For instance, it can help you:
- Process and reflect on your emotions
- Enhance your mindfulness
- Become more grateful
- Organize your aspirations and goals
- Develop a more positive mindset
- Boost your creativity
- Reduce your stress and anxiety levels
- Improve your memory
- Sleep better
- Track the progress you’re making toward your goals
If you’re just getting started with journaling, you’ll want to intentionally set aside a regular time for it each day until it becomes part of your normal routine. You may also want to try various methods—for example, using a paper journal versus a digital journal—to find the one that works best for you. I also enjoy illustrated journaling which combines drawing pictures with writing words.
Learn More About the Benefits of Journaling
If you’re interested in journaling and the benefits it can provide for you, contact me today. I’m thrilled to arrange an initial consultation at a date and time that fits into your schedule. I look forward to meeting with you, telling you more about my practice, and providing you with tips for how to incorporate journaling into your daily life.