Journaling
By Erin Glassmacher
As little girls, keeping a diary of our every idea, thought, and belief was a must. We would share how our day went, our goals for the future, our deepest secrets—anything and everything that was on our mind. Why did we ever stop?
Journaling is a simple and effective practice that has many proven scientific benefits, one of them being that it improves your overall wellness in a variety of ways. Here are a few specific ways that journaling can enhance your well-being:
Journaling can improve sleep. If you journal before bed, it can decrease cognitive function stimulus, rumination, and worry, which will allow you to fall asleep faster.
Journaling can boost cognition. If you reflect on your experiences, you can see a decrease in intrusive thoughts about negative events. In addition, such reflection also improves your working memory. As a result, clearing up space in your brain can assist you in coping with stress in a more effective manner.
Journaling can decrease emotional distress. Reflecting on certain experiences has been shown to result in improvements in both physical and psychological health.
These benefits are just a few ways that journaling can help you through your wellness journey. As an adult, it is important to take time for yourself to reflect on your experiences and future goals. Physically writing down your thoughts will improve your mindfulness and cognitive functions greatly, and you can learn more about yourself in the process.
Are you interested in journaling but do not know where to start? Here are a few prompts to save for your future journaling:
21 Journaling Prompts and Ideas - Intuitive Souls Blog
64 Journaling Prompts for Self-Discovery | Psych Central
The Ultimate List of Self-Discovery Journaling Prompts | by Eric Sangerma | The Happy Human | Medium
99+ Journal Prompts To Inspire You in 2021 (diaryofajournalplanner.com)
119 Journal Prompts for Your Journal Jar - (daringtolivefully.com)
References
The Art of Journaling: How To Start Journaling, Benefits of Journaling, and More (dailystoic.com)
