Journaling as a Self Care Practice
A journal to an adult is equivalent to a child having a diary — it's sacred. It allows you the privacy and freedom to confess your struggles and everyday woes of the world without judgment or punishment. I’m almost certain it felt good to get all of those thoughts and feelings out of your head and down on paper. The world seemed clearer and even if it was solely for your eyes only, you felt understood. You might’ve fallen out of the habit of writing in your diary once you reached adulthood.
However, the concept still applies.
One of the ways to cope with any overwhelming emotion is to find a healthy way to express it and journaling can help with that. Studies have shown that journaling helps control your symptoms and improve your mood by:
Supporting you by prioritizing problems, fears, and/or concerns
Taking inventory of daily symptoms so that you can recognize triggers and learn ways to better control them
Allowing an opportunity for positive self-talk and identifying negative thoughts and repetitive behaviors that can cause a demise in your mental clarity.
I journal everyday, preferably in the morning and make a gratitude list as I feel it sets the precedence for the day. If I feel overwhelmed throughout my day, I also journal. Keeping a journal can help identify what’s causing that stress or anxiety itself, in that current moment. Once you identify, you can curate a plan to resolve and reduce your stress.
Tips: Try to remain consistent and journal daily. Having a ritual is another way of caring for yourself and showing yourself the love you deserve. You don’t need to follow a certain structure as your intuition is the best leader. Write, draw, or scribble if you need to release any feeling/emotion you have that could potentially be causing your body (and mind) overwhelm.