Journaling can be either a necessary part of life or an unnecessary burden, depending on who you ask. Also, it seems to be rather common to start journaling in some form at some point in our lives and then stop because of various reasons, but mainly because the habit is too hard to sustain, or perhaps because of privacy issues.
But what is the truth of the matter? Is journaling beneficial to people? Scientists and psychologists say yes.
Journaling has been linked to both success and better mental health. Expressive writing helps individuals to sort through their thoughts and emotions in much the same way as talking to a friend does. It helps work through emotions such as sadness and anxiety; and to pause and take note of happy feelings.
Psychologists and therapists often recommend journaling as a therapeutic technique. Sometimes the mode of writing is left up to counselees, and sometimes it is recommended to stick to certain questions in journaling, which are geared to help work through unpleasant emotions. This is also true in the case of anxiety. While anxious people can feel overwhelmed by the emotions they feel, writing the thoughts associated with these feelings and about the feelings themselves provides distance and clarity. It also helps anxious individuals pinpoint distortions and illogic in their thinking that is leading to unhealthy emotions. When this occurs, the individual can then reframe their thoughts into more positive forms, instead of allowing their thoughts and reality to be clouded by negative emotion. (This is sometimes called ‘emotional reasoning,’ where feelings guide thoughts and judgments to an irrational extent.)
There are many different kinds of journaling out there. The bullet journal is a relatively new form of journaling and planning that is both popular and effective in organizing people’s lives. It is also extremely flexible and customizable. Whether you suffer from anxiety or not, you will benefit from starting (or re-starting/ continuing) a journaling habit. Explore some options online, or simply begin now!
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