THE BENEFITS OF JOURNALING

By: Zaghra Savahl

What is it about journaling that has caused it to stand the test of time? What benefits does it provide? For anyone that's ever seen the movies The Notebook or Bridget Jones` Diary, you will know how integral journaling is to those stories. Much like real-life, journaling provides stability to centre your emotions, your psyche, and ultimately your sense of self.
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The year 2020 has been tumultuous – to say the least – and 2021 just cranked up the turmoil. Many people have been practicing social distancing due to the pandemic, and they have found themselves in isolation, which can get lonely…very lonely. Adding on to the weight of the world's problems, being too much in your own thoughts for extended periods of time can have a negative effect on your health and your overall well being. It's safe to say that an outlet is needed. For many years, an outlet that has been highly recommended is journaling. Journaling is the practice of recording your thoughts, often in the form of a notebook, which has many benefits. This tool and practice is not only needed, but it is essential.

“By the time I got to junior high, I started to have emotional drama with hormones and puberty so that’s when it became a catharsis for me. I got a clear sense that I wanted to pour my heart out, have that emotional outlet and find emotional balance. I learned very quickly that I could soothe myself with my writing by telling myself my deepest secrets, concerns, and fears, and then give myself comfort​

-Mark Matousek interview with Kathleen Adams, Journal to the self, 2014 

With the daily pressures of life and the stress that it brings, journaling can be that source of comfort that you need, through both the highs and the lows. Let's take a look at how it can be of benefit to you.

Helps to Balance those thoughts in your mind
As humans, there's a sense of comfort in sharing your beliefs, reasoning, and experiences with others. However, this can be difficult and even intimidating for many people. An easier way to start this process is by journaling. As you write, you are indeed sharing everything that's going on in your mind, even if it is just with yourself. Once it's written, reading over it can help you gain a sense of perspective. It is therapeutic and helps create a sense of balance. It is a great way to record your thoughts when experiencing different emotions at different times. This can help you go back later and track and assess the link between your thoughts and emotions.
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Capturing those sparks of great ideas
Have you ever had a great idea in the spur of the moment? Then later, forgot what you came up with and could kick yourself for not recording it at that very moment? It happens to all of us. Carrying a journal is often a staple for creatives such as songwriters, poets, entrepreneurs, you name it! In your personal capacity, it serves as a great tool for recording an idea you might want to save for later. Perhaps you came up with a secret ingredient to add to your cooking that you need to remember to get from the store later? Or you came up with a brilliant idea for a birthday gift for your loved one and capturing it in your journal gives birth to a whole range of other ideas that you can add on. Journaling helps you save those ideas for anytime you wish to go back to them later.

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Keeps you organized
Life is busy and we all know that life can get messy! Journaling serves as a way to map out your To-Do-List and keep track of your goals to keep you organized. Whether you're juggling looking after your family with your career or you`ve decided to make big life changes and need to get into a new routine, journaling allows you to plan what you need to do to the last detail. Once you become accountable to what you placed in your journal, it automatically helps you create a sense of order.
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Saving memories
This is a personal favourite of mine. There`s something special about finding one of your old journals you wrote in as a child and reading it as an adult. It often awakens dreams and wishes that you lost along the way as you were growing up. Recording memories, especially significant and meaningful ones that had a great influence on your life, can help you later when you need words of comfort through difficult times. Throughout life, there will be times when you feel a bit lost and might end up being too hard on yourself. A journal that recorded great memories, especially of your highs and your ways of achieving goals, is a great way to re-ignite certain passions you had and you can re-visit some of your achievements to boost your self-esteem and self-confidence.

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Improves your flow of writing
One of the greatest benefits of journaling is that a journal doesn't judge. It doesn't matter whether your grammar is on form or your spelling is accurate, all you need to do is write. Journaling improves your flow of writing in the sense that the more you do it, the easier it becomes. It improves the process of molding your thoughts into words. Whether it’s an idea you have or an emotion that you are struggling to express, once you start journaling consistently, you will find that formulating your thoughts, ideas and feelings becomes easier the more you journal.
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Journaling is an ancient tradition that has stood the test of time – for very good reasons. Through the good times and the bad, its benefits have helped many to get through those tough times and to save those times when you`ve been at your best. It helps you to reflect and to discover the link between your deepest thoughts and your sense of purpose. All you need to get started is to put pen to paper.
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Here are links to purchase your very own journal from Striving Flawlessly!

https://www.strivingformodesty.com/store/p220/Notebook.html#/