It isn’t a secret that journaling is a good tool for self-care. It allows you to express yourself, get clarity in your thoughts, and do some self-discovery. In guided formats, journaling can even help you rewrite some of the negative self-talk narratives you may have.
But journaling doesn’t solve every problem, and isn’t always for everyone. So how do you know whether you need to pick up a journaling habit?
Here are 3 signs that you could benefit from writing in a journal:
1. You find yourself overthinking, thinking in circles, or unable to make decisions.
This can be a sign that you are thinking emotionally, or stuck in a pattern of emotions that causes you to dwell on past events or worry about future ones rather than living in the present. When you’re in your head, it becomes difficult to notice the repetition until it becomes all you can think about. Writing down thoughts when you’re overthinking or feeling stuck can help you transition from thinking emotionally to thinking logically. This can bring clarity to situations where you felt you were spinning in circles.
2. The days are going by in a blur.
Journaling can be a form of mindfulness and help you reflect on your day, as well as helping to keep a record of moments you want to remember. Calling out moments in your day not only helps you remember those moments better, but also trains your brain to notice and appreciate more moments if joy in your day, bringing more color into your life. Effectively, practicing this form of mindfulness through journaling can help you avoid living life in autopilot.
3. You need a space that is 100% yours.
Whether you have an all-consuming career, need some space from your kids or want the freedom of not worrying about anyone else’s judgement, a journal can be a safe space for you. It’s a space you get to control, there’s no need to walk on eggshells, worry about others’ reactions or feelings and you get to be 100% yourself - whatever that may be. There are no expectations, no rules, no measure of success. You get to control everything, and you make any and all the calls - whether you want to practice gratitude, vent about your day, write down a hundred things you’re worried about or just ramble about your day, there’s no one to pass any judgement or tell you how to use your space. And sometimes, that’s all we need - a little space that is wholly for ourselves.
So if you’re feeling like you could use a journal, how do you get started?
The easiest way is to just find a notebook - anything you can write in will work, or just open up a document and start typing if you don’t want to write by hand - and just start writing whatever comes to mind. There’s no right or wrong, it doesn’t have to be pretty, you don’t even ever have to look at it again if you don’t want to.
You can write as if you’re talking to someone else, write to yourself, write to your diary, you can even just write in bullet points if you want. If you aren’t sure what to write, try using journal prompts or you can get a guided journal. Guided journals often have a particular goal in mind, such as self-discovery, gratitude, or a self-love, like our guided journal ‘Self’.
Whether you’re looking for a space that is entirely free for you to craft or want to start with journal prompts or a guided journal, remember that a journaling practice is for you, so switch things up or try new formats as you need.
Happy journaling!
Have questions about journaling or self-love? Leave a comment or reach out to hello@tintedpages.com!