In a world that moves faster than the speed of a notification ping, there’s something almost revolutionary about putting pen to paper. Journaling is not a new fad or the latest online challenge; it is an art form that has been practiced around the world for decades. Even in our modern age where almost every aspect of life relies on screens, journaling is still a very common practice, and for good reason. Be it self-reflection, imagination, or even mental health, journaling offers a uniquely private space for expression. It is quiet, reflective, and surprisingly transformative.
Journaling could be characterized as putting thoughts to paper, or writing down every thought, feeling, and observation that comes to mind, but that description doesn’t give it enough credit. For a large number of individuals, journaling serves as a means of helping them understand their emotions, sorting out a mental block, and even igniting creativity. The best thing about journaling is that there is no wrong way to do it! It does not have to be composed in prose, written in perfect handwriting, or put in a perfectly neat journal. What matters is what each person uniquely gets out of the experience.
Journaling can be one of the best forms of self care. In an environment often saturated with stress and anxiety, journaling offers a safe space to vent, deliberate, or reflect. And, if one happens to be very mad about schoolwork, relationships, or simply the irritations of everyday life, writing provides an outlet. Studies from National Institutes of Health the show that the narration of one’s thoughts and feelings reduces stress, elevates mood, and even helps make decisions. Writing down the difficult emotions that are taking up your thoughts, rather than allowing them to stew in your head, often allows your mind to let go and relax, lifting that invisible weight of your shoulders.
Journaling also enables you to get insights on your past thoughts and feelings. It creates a record of your state of mind, leaving room for reflecting on past actions and issues from a more unbiased lens. Being able to approach your past experiences with a new perspective will help you grow as a person, and notice details you may have previously overlooked. For example, you might see recurring themes in your writing indicative of deeper issues or traumas. In this sense, journaling does not merely function as a release; it serves as a pathway toward greater understanding of one’s self and mental health.
However, journaling is not just an exercise for mental well-being; it is also a wonderful tool for tapping into your creativity. Creativity is often thought of as necessitating a flash of inspiration, innate talent, or perhaps genius. Yet, it actually is a lot like many other skills in that it benefits from practice. Creativity, just like any other skill, flourishes through consistency.
When you form a habit of journal writing, you can encourage innovative energy by working every day on writing with little expectation of creating something “good” or “perfect.” With that frame of mind, fresh ideas will float to the surface, taking away the rules and pressure often holding people back.
Journaling is sometimes an outlet for free-associating ideas. Free association is the expression of thoughts without censorship as an aid in gaining access to unconscious processes. Go ahead and write anything that comes to your mind: snippets of half-overheard conversations or moments of self-reflection looking toward the future. These seemingly random ideas carry within them the seeds of larger ones – art, stories, and even inventions. With less self-censorship, there is more room for creativity to flourish in unexpected ways.
Even just writing something physically with your hands can be super beneficial. Evidence shows that writing by hand activates different parts of the brain than typing does. It requires thought, and forces us to slow down, and really consider what it is that we are writing. In this way, journaling is more than just merely recording thoughts, it is exercise for the mind.
To better understand the advantages of journaling, I met with my best friend Lissy, a longtime journaler. Lissy discusses how journaling helps her cope with emotions, unleash creativity, how it has become a crucial part of her everyday routine, and why she feels everyone should try it.
Isabella: Hi Lissy! Thanks for sparing a moment to let me interview you. I know that you have been journaling for quite a while now, and I was wondering if you could share your experience, and why you like journaling so much.
Lissy: Oh, absolutely! Writing for me is just like my own little escape. It gives me an opportunity to really slow down, and contemplate everything that’s going on in my brain. You know, life moves so fast, and a bit of writing allows for me to catch my breath and really think about how I’m feeling.
Isabella: Oh, gotcha. Do you ever consciously use journaling for stress management or any other form of emotional engagement?
Lissy: Yes! It’s like a reset button for very messy minds. Whenever things are overwhelming, frustrating, or anything like that, I pull out my pen and just write. I do not bother worrying whether it is silly, not rhyming, or neat. The moment brings such relief.
Isabella: Wow, that’s so cool! Does journaling also help with your creativity?
Lissy: Definitely! The best ideas come out of thinking about or writing random thoughts or ideas in my journal. Whether it’s an overheard conversation or a weird dream, it always sparks an idea.
Isabella: That’s awesome! Do you always write down your thoughts or do you sometimes type them in your computer?
Lissy: I always handwrite. It’s different. Typing doesn’t help to go through thoughts the same way. Writing by hand helps me slow down, and really connect with what I’m writing about. It’s mindfulness on another level for me.
Isabella: That’s so interesting! Do you have any recommendations for someone beginning to journal?
Lissy: Just do it! Don’t even think of looking good, or whether you should be writing about exactly this or that. I just write about what comes to mind. Sometimes, I jot down a few lines, and sometimes I write an entire page. It doesn’t really matter. The more you practice, the more enjoyable it’ll be.
Isabella: Thank you very much for sharing this with me, Lissy! It’s quite inspiring what you put down in your journal!
Lissy: Anytime! Glad to share!