Benefits of Journaling
- Container or space for thoughts and emotions
- Helps process thoughts and feelings
- Track mood, habits, patterns, and triggers
- Provides a space for reflection on past entries, which can result in greater understanding and more informed decision-making in the future
- Monitor progress towards goals
Helpful Tips
- Journaling does not have to be done on paper. Use materials that are most convenient for you. This could be digital journaling by form of Google Document or Notes App on your mobile device.
- You do not have to journal daily. You can set a reminder or pick a time of day to journal if that is what works best for you. You can also choose to leave your journal in a place that you will see frequently–then when you feel like you could benefit from journaling it is in a convenient/accessible place.
- Grammar, Spelling, and Format do not have to be perfect.
- You can mix up different methods of journaling—Brain Dump, Bullet Journaling, Gratitude Exercises, Visual/Art Journal, Stream of Consciousness, etc.
- Be kind to yourself and try not to pass judgment on what you write.
Resources:
How to keep a mental health journal | Mental Health America
Gratitude Journal | Practice | Greater Good in Action
How Journaling Can Help You in Hard Times
Journaling for Mental Health – Health Encyclopedia – University of Rochester Medical Center
