Journaling is one of the oldest self-help practices in the world. It dates to the 10th century and has only grown in popularity over time. Today, millions of people use the practice to help improve their lives.
So, why is journaling so popular? Discover what is driving the journaling craze and the reasons you should consider taking it up yourself.
1.Journaling relieves stress.
Did you know that journaling is a great tool for relieving stress? Getting your thoughts and emotions down onto paper can help to clear them from the mind. This automatically leaves you feeling calmer and more relaxed.
Journaling can also be used to analyse your problems. When you can clearly work out solutions to the issues you are facing, it can help you to feel more in control. This in turn will help to reduce stress, helping you to feel happier and more relaxed
2. It boosts mental health.
Journaling is scientifically proven to benefit mental health. It can be used to relieve the symptoms of depression, reduce anxiety, and improve overall wellbeing.
It’s easy to get lost inside your own head. We all have an inner critic, but for some it can prove to be overpowering. If you have trouble switching off your inner critic, journaling can help. You’ll be able to address negative thinking, helping to switch to a more positive mindset.
The longer you journal for, the more mental health benefits you’ll experience. After just a month of journaling, you’ll notice a drastic improvement in your mood.
3. Journaling provides surprising health benefits.
As well as helping to boost mental health, journaling can also be great for physical health too. There have been a lot of studies which have shown that journaling on a regular basis can:
- Boost your immune system.
- Improve your memory.
- Help you recover from trauma.
- Improve cardiovascular health.
The health benefits are largely down to an increase in stress and negativity. You might just be surprised how much a positive outlook can improve your physical health.
So, if you are looking to become healthier both mentally and physically, keeping a daily journal can help.
Helping to improve every aspect of your life.
With journaling, it can help to improve every aspect of your life. You can use it to better yourself in every possible way. Want to increase the amount of movement you do? A journal can help you to set goals and track your progress. It will also help you to identify why you are finding it challenging.
You can use daily journaling to improve your relationships, get better sleep, become healthier and reduce stress. There really is no limit to what journaling can help you to achieve. It is inexpensive and anyone can journal!
These are some of the main reasons why journaling is so popular. While it used to only consist of writing down your thoughts, these days there are lots of different types you can practice. Research the different types before choosing which one is right for you.
I began my journaling journey when I read the book “The Artists Way” and began “Morning Pages”. I can highly recommend her book and going through the twelve weeks. It really helped me work through a number of things during that time. You can read more about “Morning Pages” in this blog post here.
If you would like to begin journaling and need some inspiration check out the journaling prompts below.
