Daily Journaling for Wellness: Benefits + Tips
Do you ever feel like you are stuck in your own head? Struggling to make a decision? Or need a way to unwind from a stressful day? Journaling may be the answer!
Journaling has become a staple in my wellness routine. I start and end every day with some sort of journaling. Most of the time this is using my Five Minute Journal, highly recommend if you have’t heard of it yet, where I write three things I’m grateful for, three things that would make today great and my intention for the day in the morning. At night, I write down three things that made the day great and something I learned. This practice doesn’t take long but makes all the difference. It provides me with two moments in my day to slow down, recenter and reflect and it has become a non-negotiable.
Somedays, however, this just isn’t enough or I have something that feels unresolved that keeps coming up. Longer journaling sessions allow me to create distance from my thoughts so I can dive a little deeper, recognize patterns and view things from a different perspective. Sometimes I journal on a specific topic like what are the obstacles to fully committing to business growth or self-exploration. Other times I just let the words flow.
Even for a daily journaler like me, both the process and the outcome looks different on any given day. Still, each session never fails to help me discover something about myself. Ready to make journaling a part of your routine?
5 Benefits of Journaling
Improves Mental and Physical Health – Many people associate journaling with its ability to alleviate stress and be a management tool for depression and anxiety symptoms. What many don’t know is how beneficial it can be to our physical health. Studies have shown a connection between journaling and improved immune, liver and lung functions. Along with lower blood pressure.
Provides Space – Getting your thoughts out of your head and on to paper creates space for reflection. Journaling gives you the unique opportunity to be an objective observer of your life and approach situations with less emotional reactivity.
Tracks Progress and Growth – Not only does journaling give you space to grow but it also provides a physical record of your journey. Take a look back on your entries and see how far you’ve come.
Improves Sleeping Habits – Emptying your mind of racing thoughts before heading to bed can help you fall asleep faster and even increase the quality of your sleep.
Boosts Memory – Journaling increases your working memory capacity, allowing you to store and process more information in your brain.
4 Tips for Getting Started
Pick a Tool – Journal wherever is easiest for you. You can get a blank journal, one with prompts or just use your laptop or phone.
Take Small Steps – You don’t need to write a novel every time you journal. Start by just writing down what you are thinking even if it doesn’t really make sense. Journaling can be messy!
Habit Stack – Pick something you already do every day like brushing your teeth or eating dinner and journal before or after that. Connecting your new routines to existing ones will make the transition easier.
Try a Prompt – If you are having trouble figuring out what to write, try a prompt. Here are a few popular ones to get you started: Describe something you learned today that you didn’t know before. What is something you are proud of? What is your happy place and why?