Why Journaling can help improve your mental health… 

Journaling encourages a form of writing called Expressive Writing. Using prompts, expressive writing can be used to delve deeper into your thoughts, beliefs, and opinions, and in addition, it can help you connect with memories and trauma in order for you to begin to make sense of your world.  

When Journaling, you tend to use pronouns such as ‘I’ and ‘me’, which can help the writer self-reflect. What’s more, expressive writing does not require perfect spelling or grammar; it simply invites you to empty your brain of the thoughts and feelings that have been swirling around. Getting those thoughts and feelings down on paper can feel meditative and therapeutic. Every word you write will come from your own personal experience, and there is no right or wrong way to do this. It’s a spontaneous process that doesn’t need to have a storyline and will be more about the feeling the events in your experience provoked rather than the event itself. By getting them down on the page, you can begin to process your emotions and eventually, begin to heal.  

There are many long-term benefits from regular and consistent Journaling; these include, but are not limited to: 

• Fewer Stress Related Visits to the Doctor 
• Reduction in Symptoms of Anxiety or Depression 
• Physical Health Improvement – Including Improvement in your Immune System  
• Improved Cognitive Performance  
• Greater Clarity and Focus 

This can be an entirely personal process or one in which you eventually decide to share; either way, the therapeutic benefits of starting a journal and using expressive writing as a tool to heal and take control of your emotions, has many benefits.  

Here are a few prompts you can try yourself to get you going… 

1. Describe a day when you felt really grouchy: What happened? Who was there? What did you feel?  
2. If you could describe today with one word, what would you choose? Why did you choose that? 
3. Write about something that brings you the most peace. Is it a place or space? A person? Write down some ways you find peace.

Don’t have a journal? Dont worry, we’ve got you covered! Grab yours now by clicking here!