People have kept a journal of some kind for hundreds, if not thousands of years. People also start them for different reasons, whether to keep a to-do list, vent or just keep track of your day, so you have some memories to look back on.
Journaling does have its benefits, though, especially when it comes to your self-confidence and mental wellbeing. Here are 7 benefits to keeping a journal.
Follow Achievements
Many people go weeks, months, or even years feeling like they haven’t achieved anything with their lives. Not only does this lead to stress and anxiety, but it can lead to long-term consequences such as depression.
Journaling helps you track your achievements, big and small, and allows you to go back when you are feeling low and see what you have achieved. This is especially helpful on those days when you feel like giving up; you can look back and know that you are capable of success even when you think you aren’t.
Memories
One of the biggest reasons for journaling is to write down memories. You have probably met someone who found their diary from when they were younger and kept it to relive a particular memory or just keep hold of a unique part of their childhood.
While photos are clearly a great way to store memories, they don’t tell the whole story. Think of it as a movie without talking; you can kind of keep track of your life. What someone says and thinks adds that special layer to memory.
Stress-Relief
Sometimes you just want to vent; you have a lot of emotion inside you, but you struggle to get out. Some people may turn to unhealthier options to deal with this type of emotion, but once again, journaling is your friend.
You are able to express whatever feelings you have and get them all out in a way that doesn’t hurt you or others. It is also something you can do whenever you choose, and there is no limit to the amount you can vent.
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Self-Reflection
On the other hand, a journal can be used for self-reflection; you write down what you are thinking and feeling, how you dealt with a situation, what you wish you did differently. This allows you to analyze what you have done and use it as a way to learn how to do something better or differently.
Journaling can also be used as a form of meditation. You can sit quietly and write about your thoughts or day at the same time every day, using this period to clear your mind and give yourself a chance to reset.
Problem-Solving
Another aspect that some people struggle with is problem-solving. Whether at work, in your relationship, or with your family, it can be difficult to think logically and find the correct path to move forward and fix or start to fix a problem.
Writing everything down and seeing it in front of you allows you to think clearly and not be clouded by information that isn’t useful. Think of it as trying to do complicated math in your head instead of writing it down.
Self-Confidence
Self-confidence is another struggle a lot of people have. Not feeling good enough, feeling defeated, all of these emotions will dent or destroy your confidence. Taking the idea of writing down your achievements even further, the next step is to write about anything you are proud of.
Maybe you made a delicious meal, or you had a fantastic date, or you learned something you couldn’t do before. You can also write about the way you handled a situation or dealt with a conflict. All of these things combined build your confidence and can give you a boost if or when you need it.
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Improve Communication
Finally, writing regularly will help improve your writing and communication skills. This is especially true if you write in the way you want to speak to people or be spoken to; if you are kind to yourself while you write, you will learn to be more considerate to others.
Even though we use emailing and messaging to communicate nowadays, it is still essential to do it professionally, especially in a work environment. Knowing how to efficiently and clearly share ideas and feelings is important for healthy work relationships and a healthy work environment.
Article by Born Realist