Regular Journaling: Why and How?
Article By Lizzie West
These are crazy times we are living in and it has so many of our heads spinning. We aren’t sure what to do or what authority is right or wrong. That’s not the question we need to answer right now. The immediate question is how do we process and handle the complex emotions we are feeling in a healthy way? Could anyone have predicted that the world we are living in right now would look like this? Even if all of this never happened, life is challenging enough as it is. Everyone should have an outlet that works; journaling is a flexible and effective way to do that. Even better, there are so many different styles of journaling, that anyone can do it!
An article from The University of Rochester Medical Center states,
“One of the ways to deal with any overwhelming emotion is to find a healthy way to express yourself. This makes a journal a helpful tool in managing your mental health.”
There are several styles of journaling and many types of journals available to accomplish an individual’s personal goals. There is no way to get into every kind of journal in this one short article, but here are a few options that cover a variety of personalities and needs.
1. Classic Journaling
This is a great option for those that just want to write about their experiences, thoughts, and feelings. It’s simple design, with lined pages and a compact profile, makes it so easy for anyone on the go. HERE is a great option for this type of journal; it comes in many colors or you can find your own at a local bookstore. For anyone that wants to keep it super simple, a blank electronic document and online file storage can be super useful in cataloging thoughts and feelings. This is also a very searchable way to look back at a later time.
2. Timed Journaling
This is a fantastic option for those that have a busy schedule or find it difficult to fit in this type of self-care between work, family, and all the responsibilities that come along with living life. These types of journals typically have prompts that walk you through your writing in order to reach a goal. Many of these journals are geared toward mindfulness and recognizing happiness. HERE is a journal that is designed to take you just a few minutes a day to work on and keep you focused on your goals.
3. Bullet Journaling
Bullet Journaling is perfect for the creative planners out there. It’s an excellent way to plan, write, and reflect on life. Many find that by devoting a little time each day to updating their bullet journal, they can identify areas they would like to change or shift in their lives, as well as have an outlet to release some energy through the artistic process that is popular with this journaling style. The main difference in the style of the actual journal is most bullet journals rely on a grid of dots instead of the more classic lined pages. These types of journals often come as a kit – like THIS one.
4. Guided Journaling
For those that find it difficult deciding where to start when they sit down to journal, a guided option can ease that anxiety. This style of journaling can be goal-oriented or a great creative outlet as well. Some of these journals are designed to work toward building healthy habits like THIS one. Others are more geared toward just writing something fun or engaging your imagination, like THIS writing prompt journal.
5. Wreck-It Journaling
The last kind of journaling on the list is kind of off-the-wall and for those that want an outlet for their feelings in a more physical sense. These are specialized journals with prompts on ways that you physically change the journal that help alleviate stress and frustration. THIS colorful wreck-it journal has many fun and different pages to trash or enhance in order to help you process things. It could be fun to see how your motivations change throughout the course of completing the prompts.
At the end of the day, there isn’t a limit to how a person chooses to catalog their experiences. Some people even find creative ways to incorporate a few different styles in their journaling. From the internet, to bookstores, and the stores that seem to have everything, journals are sold everywhere. The mission with journaling is for the individual to find what works for them and is something they can stick with long-term. It’s kind of exciting to look across a significant period of time to see how the journaling, feelings, coping, or even style, changes. There are even more ways to journal than are listed here, so anyone can search or even create their own method to record and process their own life. If you are still sitting at home, just grab a piece of paper or open a blank document on the laptop and start writing!