Journaling may seem tedious to some people. Maybe too much work or too tough of a commitment. It may also seem intimidating. It might feel weird or embarrassing to write down everything that’s in your head or you may run out of things to write about. With all of these reasons to hesitate, people keep their thoughts bottled up in their minds and lose track of them. But if there is a way in order to help you relax, why not do it?
Journaling is perfect for when you’re stressed or feeling down. It’s also perfect for when you’ve had the best day of your life. It helps expel negative emotions, document events and help you clear your head. Have a terrible day? Write it down, it may not have been such a bad day after all. Met someone new that you hope to see again? Talk about them. You’ll remember their face a lot easier if you write it down. All you need is a pen, an empty journal and 15 minutes.
When I journal, I do it before I go to bed. When you think about too much at once, usually your brain is wired and not willing to sleep. Once I put down my pen, I feel relaxed and end up sleeping soundly. When I begin, I usually take one page and write single words. I write these words in random places all over the page and they usually describe my mood and what put me in that mood. For example; happy, friends, food, Friday, strong, workout, confident, studying, etc. I write down negative emotions as well depending on what happened that day and if I was still bothered by it. It gives me a chance to reflect and observe how I handled situations. I realize that some points in my day could have been better if I had said something different; now if I experience this again, I know what to do.
Emotions are powerful. They make you do things you never thought you would do or say things you would never normally say. Removing negative vibes helps bring these emotions to light in a way that allows you to cope with them. Choose colorful pens and a cute notebook. And remember, you don’t have to fill an entire journal and one entry does not have to be a million pages long. Just write something short, it is so freeing. You still have a chance to give yourself a new year’s resolution to truly stick to. If I had to choose, I would rather write my emotions on paper than go to the gym but it’s all based on what you prefer.
Good luck and happy writing!