Why Journaling Matters

Journaling is almost like having a secret haven for all your thoughts. It’s a space where you can be entirely yourself without judgment. You may not be the best artist or never even have picked up a pen outside of educational reasons, but I assure you, journaling is for everyone. It’s whatever you want it to be—your dreams, your goals, your day, or simply doodles.

Why Should I Do It?

Understandably, some people prefer to use other activities to express themselves. Journaling may not be for everyone, and that’s fair. But for those who are more open-minded or don’t have that go-to hobby to resort to, here are a couple of reasons to give it a shot.

Emotional Release: This one goes out to people who often find trouble verbalizing emotions. It’s worth mentioning that journaling has helped many others in similar circumstances. You’re able to write about your fears, joys, frustrations, or anything that’s on your mind. It’s like talking to a trusted friend who’s always there to listen.

Goal Setting: Jotting down goals and everything you aspire to accomplish will make them feel more achievable. Use your journal to set and remind yourself of short-term and long-term goals. It could be something as small as buying your dream shoe to anything like owning a house. If you’re having trouble setting goals, consider reading this for more insight.

Self-Discovery: Journaling is a mirror for those thoughts and feelings buzzing around in your head. Putting that down on paper helps you understand yourself, your likes and dislikes, and the things that truly matter to you. As you look back on your entries over time, you’ll notice patterns about who you are and who you want to become.

Tips on Getting Started

Okay, so now, hopefully, I’ve convinced you enough to do it yourself. But how do you start?

Find Your Journal: Choose any journal that speaks to you. It doesn’t have to be anything special—a regular notebook, a leather-bound diary from Target, or even a digital journaling app will do.

Set a Routine: Make journaling a habit by dedicating specific times each day. Maybe as you wake up, consider what you want to accomplish for the day, right as you get ready to sleep, or whenever you feel that urge to write.

Experiment: Don’t be afraid to mess around with different types of styles. Try gratitude journaling, reflecting on what you’re grateful for, or dream journaling, jotting down everything you remember from that previous nap.

Grow: After doing it long enough, periodically look back on past entries to see how far you’ve come. Feel free to use it as a tool for personal growth. You’ll find yourself reminiscing about the little things you wouldn’t have remembered otherwise.