JOURNAL

Writing down our daily thoughts in a diary or journal is one of the best things we can do for our mental health and our future happiness.

WHY SHOULD WE JOURNAL

Journaling helps us to become more aware of our thoughts and feelings and the patterns of our emotions.

Journaling can help to release our pent up feelings and emotions and reduce our levels of stress.

Regular journaling can help to alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Reflecting on our experiences and thoughts can lead to greater self-awareness and personal growth.

Regular journaling can also help to enhance the memories of our lives.

Writing freely can stimulate our imagination, encourage creativity and help us find solutions to our problems.

HOW TO JOURNAL

Find or buy a writing pad and a pen. A3 size is sufficient and it doesn't need to be expensive.

Set aside a specific time every day to journal and set yourself a daily reminder so that you don't forget.

Find (or create) a relaxing space where you can focus without interruption.

Decide what you want to write about. Is it just your thoughts and feelings? do you want to summarise the day? are you trying to solve a problem? whatever it is start with your end goal in mind.

Start small - if you're new to journaling then keep it manageable. Just 2-5 minutes every day is enough to make a positive impact on our lives.

MORE BENEFITS OF JOURNALING

Establishing a habit of regular journaling can provide an excellent way to expand awareness and work on positive change.

Some studies have shown that journaling can boost physical health and lower blood pressure.

Studies have also shown that writing what we are grateful for regularly in our journals leads to a more positive outlook on life, with fewer negative emotions. It has also been shown to decrease materialism and the desire to own more 'things' and to increase the number of positive lifestyle choices that we make, so improving our health and well being.

If you have bad thoughts that keep you awake, journaling helps to get them out of your head.

HAPPY JOURNALING

Tips for successful Journaling

Knowing what we want to write about helps us to channel our thoughts and get them out of our heads and onto the paper.
Find or create a relaxing space where there will be no distractions.
Start small - as little as 2 minutes a day is proven to have a positive impact on our lives.
It's your private journal so don't worry about what you write, just getting started will help the thoughts to flow.
Be consistent - set aside a specific time every day that is specifically for journaling.
Try to write at least one thing that you are grateful for every day.
Reading through our daily notes of gratitude once a month, and reflecting on all the amazing things that have happened to us can have a huge impact on our mood, our positivity and our well-being.