“Journaling is paying attention to the inside for the purpose of living well from the inside out.” Lee Wise
Is journaling something you’re interested in?
Have you considered it as a tool to get your thoughts out so that you feel better?
You may find it impossible to sleep because your mind is filled with thoughts going 100 miles an hour. Carving out a moment’s peace may seem impossible.
Starting a journal can help resolve these issues and lead to more benefits than you can imagine.
According to Dr. James Pennebaker, writing even three or four times, for ten to fifteen minutes each time, will help you heal faster from trauma. If you feel traumatized by your experience with your child’s drug or alcohol use, take a few minutes and write down your thoughts. It helps clear the mind chatter that can keep you depressed, anxious, and stressed.
Emptying your mind of all the jumbled thoughts and feelings whirling around at breakneck speeds will help quiet your mind and bring clarity. Developing a regular writing practice will help you achieve your goals. You can gain a new perspective by looking back at previous struggles to remind yourself how far you have come. Strength and courage come when you face your current problems head-on.
As a parent with an adult child struggling with substance use or recovery, it helps to practice self-care and express your feelings and frustrations. Your journal can be honest, candid letters to your child filled with all your hopes for them and everything you are afraid to say out loud because of the possible negative effects on their recovery. The journal is for your eyes only, of course, and you can ensure that by locking it in a drawer or keeping it at work. Another option is to keep your journal on your computer rather than handwriting it so that you can take advantage of password protection.
“Journaling is like whispering to one’s self and listening at the same time.” Mina Murray
Benefits of Journaling
Journaling encourages healing from the inside out by strengthening your immune system.
Research has shown that journaling helps speed up recovery because it increases self-knowledge and helps to get in touch with emotions, thoughts, and feelings. It is a healthy way to process daily life and to uncover patterns and root causes.
Developing a regular journaling practice can be more beneficial than therapy. It certainly is less expensive and accessible to everyone.
Journaling helps to reduce the risk of relapse, relieve stress, and increase overall mental health.
Over time, reviewing old journals will remind you of all the progress you have made and strengthen your resolve to overcome future challenges.
Writing down plans for the future and goals involves your subconscious to help make them a reality.
Journaling helps us get in touch with our intuition to experience more “a-ha” moments.
Keeping a private journal ensures we can be truly honest with ourselves. It helps to develop critical thinking skills and improve decision-making.
“Keeping a journal of what’s going on in your life is a good way to help you distill what’s important and what’s not.” Martina Navratilova
Journaling Styles
There are many different types of journaling. Here are some to choose from and try.
A stream of consciousness: this style is a good way to develop a consistent journaling practice. Set a timer for about 20 minutes and begin writing. Let your thoughts pour out onto the paper. Don’t focus on style or structure or consider whether your writing makes sense or has correct spelling, punctuation, and/or grammar. The only goal is to record your thoughts and feelings.
Diary: developing the daily habit of recording events and happenings is beneficial for everyone, whether your life is chaotic or stable. Begin by simply making a list of your activities. It may evolve into exploring your thoughts and feelings. Who knows, your notes may be helpful in the future if you write down your story to benefit your family and/or others.
Gratitude journal: by focusing on what is good in your life, even if it is as basic as waking up with a healthy body or enjoying your morning coffee, you can change your outlook and move away from negativity. We all have many blessings, even when we feel at the end of our rope. The daily ritual of expressing thanks in a journal will help refocus your energy and change your life.
Personal development journaling for spiritual, exercise, and wellness: if you are trying to change an aspect of your life or form healthier habits, targeted writing can help. Writing down your intentions makes them tangible. It sends the message to your subconscious mind that you are focused and ready to make positive changes.
Art journaling: if you don’t enjoy writing, there are many other ways to release your emotions and find clarity. For example, choose a photo from a magazine to make a collage representing your feelings and thoughts. Or draw, paint, or create to tap into the power of art therapy. Your mind and hands will be busy creating, and negative thoughts and cravings will fade as a bonus.
“The starting point of discovering who you are, your gifts, your talents, your dreams, is being comfortable with yourself. Spend time alone. Write in a journal.” Robin Sharma
Getting Started
If you have never kept a journal or diary, you may be intimidated and unsure about how to begin.
Step one is to choose a notebook or purchase one of the many types of journals available at bookstores and gift shops. If you are repurposing a notebook, you can add a new cover or decorate it to help create your new journaling practice.
Next, consider the best time to add journaling to your routine. Perhaps you want to set aside time in the evening before bedtime to journal or write first thing in the morning as you have your morning coffee or tea. As with all new habits, finding a consistent time each day or several times a week will increase your success and maximize the benefits for your health and well-being.
Now decide how much time you want to devote to each journaling session. Set a timer for 5 minutes or longer or a minimum or maximum page limit. You may want to begin with no rules and just let your writing happen. You can always change your process or adjust it over time.
Once you begin journaling, you will be rewarded in ways you cannot imagine. It will improve your self-knowledge and improve your relationships with others. Add journaling to your recovery toolbox. You will be so happy with the results.
Has journaling helped you? Let us know in the comments!
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I am all for journaling, Cathy. I’ve been journaling for years and have been nudging my clients for years to take it up too. It’s such a healing act.
That’s great that you find journaling helpful as well, Zeenat. Thanks for stopping by.
This is a great article, Cathy. I found journaling immensely helpful — especially during the early years — of my recovery from secondhand drinking.
Glad you like it, Lisa. I’m back into journaling again and am really enjoying it. I find that I’m more focused when I journal. It helps me get through my day in a better way. I appreciate you stopping by! 🙂
I love the quote at the beginning of your article Cathy. It’s such an important point to make. I’m not so much a journaling person as a contemplative one. Though I do keep daily notes on my meditation practices and the things of the day that I feel blessed about. Maybe it counts?
Hi Elle,
Sure it counts. I feel journaling can come in many forms. Not everyone wants the daily or weekly habit of writing in a journal, but your approach sounds very helpful. Thanks for sharing what works for you.
Yes, I’ve found journaling to be very helpful. Journaling has helped me to better express myself. As a child, I did not have much opportunity to acknowledge what I feel and to formulate my thoughts. These days, journaling has been a great tool for me in terms of emotional release. I also love keeping a gratitude journal!
That’s wonderful that you have found journaling helpful, Evelyn. It can be a valuable tool for expressing feelings and to acknowledge thoughts.