The Effectiveness of Journaling
Do you write a journal? Many people associate journal writing with young girls writing their hearts out in childhood diaries, relating all their experiences that either delight, make them sad, or make them feel embarrassed.
Contrary to what most people who actually don’t write a journal may associate with journal writing, it’s now becoming more common for many people to keep one. Journaling has proven to be advantageous for everyone regardless of age or gender because it has several benefits for a person’s health, mental wellbeing, memory, and emotions, to name a few.
The practice of writing a journal is a very ancient tradition, one that dates back to thousands of years ago. This particular human desire to log memories and record daily thoughts is as old as handwriting itself.
Throughout history, we’ve come to know famous people due to them recording their thoughts on paper. They include Samuel Pepys in England recording the Great Fire in 1666, travel journals of the early Christian pilgrims, famous world explorers recording their journeys, and world leaders and authors. The Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius penned his deepest thoughts into what is now the famous book, “Meditations.”
Journaling may be an old tradition, yet it still lives today. This shows us what an effective practice it is, having outlived centuries and many trends. All history aside, for us today, there is much evidence from countless studies pointing to the effectiveness of journal writing.
Journaling Can Improve The Quality of Your Life
The practice of journaling enables us to find clarity amidst the clutter and distractions of life. By creating a living space for holding our thoughts and emotions, journaling enables us to organize our thoughts and make plans before we take action. With such a tool, we can accomplish more with our lives, and as a result, journaling helps us improve our lives in general as it enables us to reach our goals more easily and effectively.
Journaling Helps With Goal-Setting and Making Things Happen
A person is 62% more likely to achieve their goals in life by simply writing them down. This was according to a study conducted by Dr. Gail Matthews from the Dominican University in California. Writing things down versus letting them linger (or be lost) in our thoughts is very powerful as it sends a signal to our brain, triggering it to begin taking more proactive steps and necessary moves in order to make the goal become a reality.
Journaling Effectively Clears The Mind
Journaling creates a space for us to hold our emotions and thoughts in, so it allows us to empty our minds from unnecessary worries, anxieties, and thoughts. Life is complicated enough, and when our minds are constantly frazzled, confused, and restless, it’s harder to take action on the things that truly matter. Clarity of mind is very important and this is another thing a journal can help us with.
Journaling Can Boost a Person’s Mood and Emotions
When our mind is clear, and we are able to better express ourselves, our mood and emotions follow suit. Inhibiting emotions and not finding any way to release them causes tension and stress from within. Much of the time, it’s as simple as identifying our own feelings and putting a label to our emotions, but even that isn’t so easy to do, until we journal.
Journaling Enhances A Person’s Well-Being
Apart from catharsis, the practice of journal writing also enables creativity to flow. There are no rules when a person journals. Journaling utilizes the left hemisphere of the brain, enabling the right hemisphere more freedom to play, which unleashes creativity. In turn, this improves our sense of well-being.
Journaling Can Help in Coping With Trauma, Anxiety, and Depression
Several studies note the positive health benefits of journaling, citing its effectiveness in the recovery from trauma or PTSD, and coping with anxiety and depression. Journaling effectively helps reduce the negative impact of mental illness by allowing a buffer between negative stimulus and thoughts, thereby enhancing an individual’s mental health and well-being.
Journaling Can Strengthen The Immune System
Other studies show the important role of journaling to our health, citing improvements to our immune system. There is evidence pointing to how journaling can strengthen the immune cells, according to the University of Texas at Austin psychologist and researcher James Pennebaker. A journaling habit can also help a person lower their blood pressure and sleep better, which contributes to better health.
As you can see, it’s worth starting a journal and enjoying the benefits. There is no downside, and you can’t know just how much it can benefit you until you give it a try!