Benefits of journaling
In one of my previous blog post, I wrote about what is journaling, and the different types and ways to practice it. In this blog, I’m going to go through the benefits of it.
1. A chance to self-reflect: Let’s face it, most of us spend more time getting to know other people then getting to know ourselves. Journaling provides a space to reflect on your thoughts, emotions, and experiences. It can help you gain insight on your life, how you live it, and what you want.
2. Stress management and wellbeing: Writing in a journal can be a therapeutic outlet for processing and releasing emotions, stress, or anxiety. Many people find that putting their feelings into words helps them cope with challenging situations.
3. Goal Setting: Some people, me included, use journals to set and track personal goals, whether they're related to personal development, health, career, or other aspects of life. Keeping a record of progress can be motivating and help individuals stay accountable. I write a lot about my business, and where I want it to go.
4. Creativity and Expression: Journaling can be a creative outlet for writers, artists, and anyone looking to express themselves through words or sketches. It allows for experimentation and creativity in a private setting. For me, a lot of my poetry is written in my journal.
5. Documentation: Journals can serve as historical records of personal experiences, travels, and events. They help preserve memories and important moments in their lives. Recently I took my journal to Hajj because I wanted to capture as much of those moments as possible. Documentation also shows the progress made from 1 year to the next, which often gets forgotten.
6. Problem Solving: Writing down problems and challenges can help clarify thoughts and develop solutions or strategies to address those issues. Again here it helps me with the business, and how to keep the podcast and coaching elements aligned, and also often I will work through marketing thoughts.
7. Gratitude and Positivity: For many, gratitude journals are their introduction to journaling, where they focus on the positive aspects of their lives. Regularly noting things to be grateful for can improve mindset. It also I find helps me find joy and happiness in my day.
8. Personal Development: Journaling can be a tool for personal growth and self-improvement. It helps track development, set intentions, and helps make positive changes. An example for me is how it helped me control my temper. During the divorce, I was under a lot of stress, and often lost my temper at the kids, something I was not proud of. Even though it was difficult, each time it happened, I journaled about it, and an alternative response that I could have chosen. Slowly, this journaled alternative became my reality.