Your mental health and emotional wellness are crucial to everything you do; school, sports, work… life! There are a number of ways to build your and improve on your mental health and emotional wellness. One way of doing that is to journal. Simply put, journaling is putting on paper your thoughts and feelings. By writing what you think and feel, you are better able to understand and process more clearly those thoughts and feelings. And when that happens you are better able to release what is not conducive to positive thoughts and feelings. Journaling allows you to express yourself without judgement or punishment, and gain control of your emotions and way of thinking in a more positive manner. In a nutshell, journaling improves your mental health! But, did you know that journaling is more than that? Yes, let’s take a look…
Calms Anxiety, Reduces Stress, Relieves Depression
Journaling affords you the opportunity to write down your deepest thoughts and feelings. Journaling allows you to process and release emotions. When you are not able to release your thoughts and emotions, they remain stuck inside. These stuck thoughts and emotions, especially the negative ones, fester and grow into anxiety, stress, and depression. The process of journaling calms anxiety, reduces stress and relieves depression.
Boosts Memory & Mental Clarity
Poor mental health, stress, anxiety, etc., all affect memory, cognitive functioning, memory capacity, and mental clarity. Emotions can often override everything else, especially when left uncheck and allowed to linger. Journaling empties the baggage in your brain, thus, improving short term and long-term memory and mental clarity.
Strengthened Immune System & Overall Health
There are many things that suppresses the immune system, stress being a major one. Journaling relaxes you, thus decreasing the likelihood of you releasing stress hormones. Not only is your immune system boosted, blood pressure is reduced, and liver functioning improves. Studies show that mental and physical health are strongly connected.
Develops Emotional Intelligence & Regulation
Emotional intelligence is the ability to express and control your emotions. And, the ability to handle the expression of emotions from others. When you learn to better understand your own emotions, it sets the tone for you to better understand the emotions of others. It also provides the opportunity for self-reflection and opens the door for a new and/or different perspective.
There are so many more benefits to journaling too! Journaling supports goal setting, expands problem solving skills, boosts creativity, and helps you achieve your goals. Putting pen to paper develops writing skills, strengthens expressiveness and mindfulness. Journaling can teach you time management and organizational skills, just to name a few more!
There are studies on the benefits of journaling, so put the benefits of journaling to work for you! It is meant to be a channel for healing and catharsis. But, if it doesn’t, and leads to more anxiety, depression, negative spiraling thoughts, etc., take a step back and seek professional help. One last thing, since journaling is meant to be personal, unless you choose to share, keep it safe and protected from wandering unwanted eyes. Good luck in your journey to journaling.
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Positive Effects Of Journaling
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