Back in July last year, I wrote about on how journaling helps rebalance the Throat Chakra. The seat of our self-expression.
Years ago, journaling was seen as old fashioned and something for people of a certain age would engage in. These days it’s seen as a powerful tool to support your mental health and well-being and not just about recording your memories or finding your self-expression.
It reduces stress which has been proven to help lessen the impact it has on your physical health. A study showed that expressive writing for 15-20 mins a day 3-5 times over a period of 4 months helped reduce blood pressure, improve liver function. Writing about stressful life experiences can help you manage them in a healthy way. Try writing down your thoughts before bedtime. It’s like a meditation which will help you unwind, let go and destress.
Expressive writing can strengthen your immunity and decrease the risk of illness. People who journal on a regular basis have found that it improved their immune system function they also noticed it lessened the symptoms of asthma and rheumatoid arthritis. Studies have also shown liver and lung function and combat certain diseases.
Regular journaling keeps the brain sharp and boosts memory and comprehension, it also increases your working memory too. It boosts and improves the mood and gives you a great sense of overall emotional well-being and happiness.
As you develop a regular habit of journaling, the benefits become long term so you become more in tune with your needs and wants. It also evokes mindfulness and gratitude and helps you remain present while keeping perspective. It’s very cathartic and helps the brain regulate your emotions. Also provides a greater sense of confidence and self-identity.
Helps you manage personal adversity and change by unlocking and engaging the right brained creativity which gives you access to your full brain power and invokes personal growth.
Pregnancy Journaling
It’s great tool to help you through your pregnancy journey. The time you find out you’re pregnant, you’ll be going through constant changes and since every birth is different, and you won’t experience these moments again, keeping a pregnancy journal is a fun way to document all those important firsts you will experience and preserve them for you and your little one. It also strengthens the bond between you and your baby.
Expressing your feelings can reduce stress and boost your resilience and immunity too and provides an opportunity to prioritise your problems, any fears or concerns that you may be facing, tracking your triggers and learning ways how to control them. It’s also a time where you can connect to your inner-child and for positive self-talk and identifying where negative and behaviours arise from and resolve them.
Part of a Healthy Life Style
Journaling is just one way for a healthier lifestyle or for managing stress, anxiety and mental health issues better.
To get the best benefits be sure to try and include:
Give yourself space and relax and meditate everyday
Eat a healthy balanced diet
Exercise regularly and do some sort of activity everyday
Get plenty of rest every night
Keep clear of alcohol and drugs.
How to Journal
Try and write every day set aside 15-20 mins of your time as this will help you get into the habit of journaling every day
Keep a pen and paper handy at all times. Or better still, treat yourself a lovely journaling note book and a special pen to write with or you can create a journal on your phone.
Write whatever feels right for you. It doesn’t have to be in any order, you can create whatever you want. Just express your feelings. You can even add drawings, colour, items etc whatever feels good. Let your thoughts flow freely and don’t worry about spelling.
Use your journal how you see fit.
Keeping a journal helps you create order when your world gets overwhelming or chaotic. You get to realise certain things about yourself by revealing your true feelings. A time to destress and wind down. I love doing my journaling first thing in the morning when I wake up with a cup of honey and lemon it really sets me up for the day. I find it very relaxing and soothing and know I’m doing something really beneficial for my mind, body and spirit.
