This is probably not the first time you have heard about journaling for self-care, and it likely won’t be the last. But aside from just adding journaling to your routine, it is important to understand why it can be so therapeutic and cathartic for you, and why it is considered to be a self-care activity.
Why Journaling is Considered Self-Care
When you think about self-care, you want to think about what will improve your life, make you feel happier and healthier, and be good for your physical, mental, and emotional health. That is where journaling comes in.
Journaling provides many things for many people, but it won’t always have the same benefits for each person. What you get out of journaling relies on how you use it, what you write about, your mindset about journaling, and if you even enjoy writing.
However, in general, here are some reasons journaling can be good for self-care:
It is a reflecting activity, letting you see where you want to make improvements in your life. You can do a brain dump, where you get all the stressful thoughts out of your head and onto paper. It helps you to vent in a safe, private space without fearing judgment. It gives you a few moments of peace and quiet, where you focus on yourself and how you are feeling.
How to Turn Journaling into a Daily Ritual
If you want to use journaling as part of your self-care routine, here are a few things that can help you with that.
Start with morning pages. Morning pages are simple 2-3 pages you write down in your journal during your morning routine. It is a stream of consciousness style, where you just write anything on your mind, not worrying about the topic, sentence structure, grammar, or any other writing rules.
Set up your journaling space. For some people, the area in their home they use for journaling is just as important as choosing the journal itself. You want this to be a quiet, private space in your home without distractions. A bedroom or office works great for this.
Use journaling prompts. If you are feeling stuck on what to write about, try using self-care journal prompts. These are sentences or questions that give you a specific topic to write about.
Types of Journaling for Your Overall Wellness
Remember that there are different types of journaling that can help with your wellness and work for self-care. Here is a rundown of some of the more popular options.
Write about your day.
This can be a great way to process any emotions you’re feeling. It can also help you to identify any patterns in your behaviour or thoughts. If you’re struggling with something in particular, writing about it can help you to figure out what’s going on and what you need to do.
Set yourself some goals.
Use your journal to brainstorm some goals for yourself, both short-term and long-term. What do you want to achieve in the next month? The next year? What kind of person do you want to be? Writing down your goals can help to make them feel more real and attainable.
Track your progress.
If you’re working on making some changes in your life, use your journal to track your progress. For example, if you’re trying to eat healthier, you could write down what you eat each day. Or if you’re trying to exercise more, you could track how often you’re working out. This will not only help you to stay on track, but it can also be motivating to see your progress over time.
Write about your worries.
Sometimes, worry can feel like it’s taking over our lives. If you’re feeling anxious or stressed, try writing down your worries in your journal. This can help to get them out of your head and onto paper, where you can deal with them more objectively. Once you’ve written them down, you might find that some of your worries are actually not as big as you thought they were.
Brainstorm solutions.
If you’re struggling with a problem, use your journal to brainstorm some possible solutions. This can be a great way to get creative and come up with ideas that you might not have thought of otherwise. Once you’ve got a list of possible solutions, you can start to figure out which ones are realistic and which ones are not.
Reflect on your accomplishments.
It’s easy to focus on our failures and the things we didn’t do, but it’s important to remember our accomplishments too. Use your journal to reflect on all the things you’ve done that you’re proud of. This can help to boost your self-confidence and remind you of your own worth.
Write about what you’re grateful for.
Gratitude is a great way to shift your focus from the negative to the positive. Every day, write down a few things that you’re grateful for. This could be anything from the sun shining to your cat snuggling up to you. Focusing on the good things in your life can help you to feel more positive and hopeful.
Stream of consciousness.
This is where you don’t think about what to write about, and instead are just doing a “brain dump” where you get your thoughts out of your head. Typically, you end up writing about many different things and go with the flow of your thoughts.
Final Thoughts
Journaling is a great way to take care of yourself, both mentally and emotionally. It can be a space to process your thoughts and feelings, set goals, and track your progress. It can also help you to remember your accomplishments and the things you’re grateful for. So why not give it a try?
