One of the ways to deal with any stress or emotion is to find a healthy way to express yourself. This makes a journal a tool in managing your mental health.
Journaling helps understand and control your mood by:
Helping you rationally note problems, fears, and concerns
Keep track of symptoms that can be triggers -both mentally and physically
Give you time to evaluate any thoughts that have been suppressed
Keeping a daily journal can bring positivity into your life and help with many things. You could focus on anything in your day, either what you want to achieve or at the end of the day as a reflection.
For daily journaling you can use a few ideas here as guide to get you started:
Try to write every day. Set aside a few minutes every day to write. This will help you to write in your journal regularly and get used to the practice.
Make it easy. Keep a pen and paper handy in a fixed space (next to your bed or sofa, in the glove box of your car).
Aim to use pen and paper. Using actually pen and paper rather than a digital device will help to maintain focus.
Write or draw whatever feels right. Your journal doesn't need to follow any structure. It's your own private place. Words, pictures, cuttings, emoji's. It could be as little as three words to sum up your day for things that made you feel good. Or three words to focus on that day ahead of a goal to set: smile, breath and say something nice.
Use your journal to download emotions. Imagine you are talking to a friend and write your feelings down. If you have more time you could write a story about your day.
Keeping a journal helps you create order and process thoughts and feelings. You get to know yourself by revealing your thoughts and feelings. Look at your journaling time as personal relaxation time. It's a time when you can de-stress and wind down. Write in a place that is just for you such as sitting in bed before the lights go out OR in the car at the school run. Look forward to your journaling time. And know that you're doing something good for your mind and body.
Have a go at this 20 minute video on sitting for meditation and some journalling practice together.
Thank you for reading. Have a great day. Bunny x
