Several studies have shown that journaling can have a number of benefits to one’s mental and emotional wellbeing. Some benefits include the ability to manage anxiety better, reduces stress levels, and helps cope with depression. Unfortunately, few people actually carve out time in their busy daily schedules to write about their feelings. Affect positive change in your mindset and emotions by journaling. Here are four tips on how to do that.
Consistency Is Key #
Consistency is what helps forge healthy habits. It’s difficult to realize the benefits of journaling if you only do it once a month or whenever you feel like it. Allocate 15-30 minutes of your day to write down your experiences for that day and how they made you feel. To help yourself follow through with this new habit, keep your journal close to your bedside table or work desk. It’ll be easier to remember to write in your journal if it’s within your field of vision.
Be Completely Honest #
If you can’t be completely honest with your present self, your future self won’t be able to use that information to make a more informed decision. If a situation made you act petty and you were embarrassed about it, put it in your journal. The same goes for ideas. If you have any business ideas, no matter how foolish they may sound, log it into your journal. Do not worry about making any spelling errors or what others might think if they read your journal. The more authentic the information is, the more useful it will be in correcting bad habits and emotional responses.
Experiment With Formats and Writing Styles #
If you are having a hard time writing in your journal because you don’t know how to structure the content, you can buy a pre-made emotions journal that’s designed with tabs, rows, and columns with some basic questions that will help you get thoughts and ideas flowing. Some basic questions or categories you’ll find in an emotions or mood journal include the emotion name, cause of said emotion, and your behavioral response to this emotion. This makes it simple and straightforward to parse the data in the future.
Figure Out Changes You Need to Make #
Simply laying out your emotions on record doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be able to get rid of the unwanted feelings and actions that said emotions elicit. Once you start to see a pattern emerge, look for solutions to correct them. For instance, if you identify that meeting a specific person or group stresses you out, you can then limit your interaction with these people. If your journal reveals that financial woes are the main source of your stress and mood, you can then start setting goals to improve your financial health.
Journaling is a great way to unload your emotional baggage whenever and wherever needed. By mastering this activity, you can improve other aspects of your life. Use the aforementioned tips and Elisi daily notes to help you get started.
