The Benefits of Journaling for Stress Management
I just wrote a blog for one of my websites and realized that the subject was one that would benefit many WA members. The post is about the benefits of journaling for stress management. As we can become stressed by the frustrations in our business, journaling is a good process for us to adapt.
What Are The Benefits Of Journaling?
Through journaling, you can clarify thoughts and feelings. From the process you can gain valuable self-knowledge. Journaling is also useful for problem solving. Very often, just writing down the details of a problem will allow you to shine a light on the solution.
It's helpful to know that the practice of journaling improves cognitive functioning. It can decrease the symptoms of asthma, arthritis, and other health problems. It will also counteract many negative effects caused by stress.
Compare It To Other Methods
While physical stress management includes techniques such as yoga and exercise, journaling is a great option for folks who can't participate in such activities. All you need to journal is a pen and paper.
Though journaling does not release tension from your body like physical techniques, it is a good practice for overall stress reduction. You can gain self-knowledge and experience emotional healing.
Journaling Strategies For You To Try
There are different journaling techniques you can try. If you already have a favorite technique, continue to use it. If you want to try a new method, here are some techniques you might like:
Gratitude Journal
Every day, list three or more things for which you are grateful. Because this strategy helps you focus on the good things in your day, it will lessen your stress.
Also, with this technique you now have a record of the nice things happening in your life. In the future, if you feel down, read over these positive reminders to help cheer you up.
Emotional Release
In this type of journal, write about the emotional responses to all the events in your day. By writing them down, you will release stress. You will have a better chance to process what you are feeling. You might find some more positive ways to look at your situation.
Write about your positive experiences. Such writing will allow you to maximize and savor these positive feelings. Developing them will help deflect some negativity. Increasing the amount of time you focus on the positive is an important part of stress management.
Bullet Journal or Personal Planning Journal
This one is a must-have. You need to keep a calendar of your day. I use a Day-Timr because there is a page for each day. Besides your scheduled events, you can add your goals, memories you have created, and other things you want to remember.
Because writing things down can help you keep your mind uncluttered and help you to remember things. It is also a stress reliever. If you are more organized and balanced, you will reduce your stress level.
The nice thing about journaling is that you can stop if you need to and restart at any time. Even if you do not journal every day, a few times a week will still help.
Journaling for stress relief can make your day more satisfying.
Recent Comments
27
Thanks for this great idea.
Younger, I kept a diary to release my emotion. I stopped thinking it was a teenager thing. But reading your post I remembered the good that it made me a lot of good. It might be time to recommend.
Thank you Fran.
A most helpful post.
I have not used a journal for daily actions & achievements.
I will commence to use one daily.
Denis
It depends on the kind of stress in my case.
When I lay out my plans for the next day, journaling helps me untangle my mind and make it clear before I sleep.
But.
2 weeks back, my older sister suddenly expired.
Two days back I got a message from home, my beloved sister-in-law has breast cancer which seems to spread from the preliminary report.
I am struggling to put my self together. Nothing works. Exercise, music, cooking, cutting, watching images, doing my favorite things-nothing works for me now.
Your blog helped me do some reading. Of course, I was reading and researching breast cancer. I hope, time will heal me. My 3rd day is better than the first day when the news broke.
Hi Fran,
Great post and thoughts! You are correct, I like the gratitude journal and the personal planning journal and use a personal planning journal every day! They both can be very therapeutic!
Michael Inman
Michael, so glad you find the technique useful. I especially like the gratitude journal...have done that a time or two. They are fun to go back to.
I used to Journal a lot but now I just write my thoughts but now I use a lot affirmations which also works wonders for me
I have a book that is called The Artist Way, a course book detailing how to free the true artist inside yourself, and her first step is that you begin writing what she called "morning pages"...had to be three full pages of whatever crossed your mind as you were sitting there...I found it to be a good exercise, though my hand did get sore from so much writing!
I wonder if I ever freed that inner artist....
:)
You know, I used to have that book. Maybe I've mentioned that to you. I think your inner artist is free and there to help you.
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I've often thought I should start a journal but just never seemed to get around to it. I think in the back of my mind I was thinking it could one-day reemerge as Exhibit A and decided against it. :-)
lol...you need one with a lock and a top secret place to hide it.