How to Start a Journaling Practice and How it Can Help Your Mental Health
Journaling is probably something you’ve seen on Instagram or heard someone say they do. It is a pretty common practice that mental health professionals recommend and it is a game-changer for your mental health. Especially if you are feeling overwhelmed.
When your body is overwhelmed with negative energy or fear, anxiety and overwhelm and you don’t have a healthy way of relieving that stress - it starts to affect your body physiologically. Chronic stress on the body affects your organs, your immunity and so much more.
One way to combat the pent up energy is to release it through writing. Not only does this release the negative energy but it also helps you process it.
Journaling helps you:
✔️ Process your feelings in a safe space
✔️ Track thoughts, prayers + feelings
✔️ Gets things out of your head
✔️ Organize your thoughts, fears + anxieties
A few years ago, I came across a website called 750words.com. It is a pretty basic website, but it is SO amazing for the intended purpose. Essentially, you log in once a day and write 750 words. That’s it. And this online journal is totally private, but it actually tracks how fast/slow you type, how many words you write and then at the end, it assesses your writing and gives you some stats.
See screenshots below for how it tracks your writing.
This first part of the stats explains my writing speed …
This next part, asses the content which is nice when I am reflecting on my mood when writing. And just an FYI, I write completely unfiltered. No one reads this but me. So it allows me to share authentically without fear of judgment. (this particular journal entry, I was having a hard day).
I have found so much value in not only writing daily but reflecting on my writing. And the benefit of 750 words is that it gives you a specific goal of how much to write without limitations on what you can write about.
For me, I journal both written in pen, on my iPad with the apple pencil and with my computer typing it out. It depends on my mood, time commitment, and intent. But this tool has been extremely helpful.
And in all honesty, it helps me be a little more filtered, especially when in conflict with my husband or anyone else. I am able to get all my frustrations out on paper, where no one’s feelings get hurt, process them and then deal with the situation without being emotionally charged.
If you have never been a journaling kind of person here are some tips to start:
✔️ Try to write every single day
✔️ Write whatever comes to mind
✔️ Keep it private
✔️ Do it away from your kids + spouse if possible
✔️ Headphones + mood music do wonders
✔️ Write at least 3 things you are grateful for each day
And remember, this doesn’t have to be any specific time of the day. I have four kids, so I do not have a regular schedule every day. Some days we wake up early, some days I am exhausted and I sleep in. I write when I can make time for it in the day. Making time to steward your commitments well and care for yourself is possible.
And if you want some journaling prompts, you can download my Self Discovery Journaling Prompts below.
