The road to self-awareness is an ever-evolving journey with no real start or end point, but what we do know is that forming good habits through consistent and mindful action is one way to move forward on this path of introspection, self-reflection and growth.
A helpful tool that we’d recommend adding to your self-care arsenal is journaling. Not only does the act of writing thoughts down allow you to reflect and process., It also helps improve overall well-being through reduced stress and anxiety.
What is journaling? In a nutshell, it is the act of being aware of your thoughts, insights, feelings, and so on, and writing or typing it out. It is the process of taking what you are holding onto and making it more real - something tangible that you can touch and see. If you haven’t tried your hand at journaling before it could feel quite daunting and time-intensive. Our tip is to ease into it. Set a reminder (about 10 to 15 minutes a day) to sit down with a pen and paper – or whatever you choose, noticing what comes up and write it down. Don’t overthink it or overedit your own thoughts, just focus on what comes up and put it down. Try to do that every day until you form a habit.
So, what is journaling good for?
It’s good for stress and anxiety.
Studies have shown that the act of making thoughts more tangible through journaling have resulted in an increase in overall well-being These finding were reported after just one month of consistent journaling.
It’s good for mindfulness and awareness.
When you’re really into journaling and analysing your thoughts and introducing new perspectives you are able to learn more about yourself and how to engage with the world around you. More often than not you’ll notice that your reactions to certain events are linked to things you might be holding on to, or might not have worked through. Journaling introduces analytical thinking that helps you be more self-aware.
It’s good for letting go & opening up.
According to studies, even a one-time 15-to-30-minute session of focused journal writing can be beneficial. The mere act of writing down and letting go of what you are holding onto can be very therapeutic. Once you have let go of something that has been holding you back you will find you are open to so much more.
It’s good for just about everything.
Studies have also found that writing in a journal can lead to better sleep, a stronger immune system, more self-confidence and a higher I.Q.
So what are you waiting for? Grab that pen and paper, and begin.