On Journaling

In our earlier blog post, Ways to get the Benefits of Writing, we discussed some of the different ways writing can be helpful, even in the form of something like a letter or a writing game. But what if you prefer journaling? It will come as no surprise that journaling can have a variety of positive impacts on mental health and stress levels, and as we head into a new semester it’s all the more important to have all these tools at your fingertips. This post is going to give you a glimpse into how journaling can be beneficial, as well as some prompts to get you started on your journaling journey!

Why is Journaling Helpful?

Writing out your thoughts, concerns, and worries can give you the space to see your troubles a little more clearly and grant a little distance from this. Not only can you get your ideas out onto the page, but you can also work around them emotionally — why does this make you feel this way? Why are you angry or sad or feeling any other emotion? Journaling can give you the space to be reflective and look into the deeper reasons why you may be struggling with something.

Journaling also gives you space to consider the more positive aspects of your life, letting you remind yourself of the good things — people you love, things you’re grateful for, opportunities you’re excited about. Between giving yourself the space to explore the negative, which can often be difficult to discuss with someone else, and the opportunity to take notice of the good things, journaling is part of a great mindfulness practice.

Journaling Prompts

What if you want to journal but aren’t sure where to start? Here are a few ideas to get you rolling:

Reflect on your day

What was a specific situation today that impacted you? Write it out in however much detail you prefer and then dig a little deeper. What feelings are you experiencing? What are your thoughts? What might you do to address this going forward?

Gratitude

What has happened recently that you’re grateful for? What did you learn from this? How might you choose to apply this going forward? Describe it in as much detail as you would like.

Self-Awareness

Explore a variety of prompts that help you get to know yourself better, such as:

• Think about something you love, and why
• Think about something you are afraid of, and why
• Describe yourself as you see yourself, and then how you think others see you
• What does your ideal life look like? Who are you with, where are you?
• What is something that you don’t think most people know about you?
• What is a skill you want to develop and why?

There are limitless possibilities for what you can write about; enjoy the process of exploring your thoughts and feelings. Remember not to dwell too much on the bad (and don’t go back and re-read those old triggering entries!) and try to look towards the future when you write– what is your takeaway, or how can you grow from this; the sky’s the limit! Happy writing!

About the Author

Jessica Corrado was born and raised in the Hudson Valley, NY, and is now exploring Richmond. She is an MA in English student at VCU and spends her free time (unsurprisingly) reading and writing, playing video games, or babysitting her many plants.

Photo by Prophsee Journals on Unsplash