5 Things I’ve Learned After Journaling for 3+ Months Straight
This post contains Amazon Affiliate Links. You can continue to read this post at no cost to you. Clicking these links are also free, but if you decide to make a purchase I will make a small commission.
I was told, many times, to write in a journal by my former therapist. But without any guidance on what to write, I found myself resenting the suggestion. I felt the idea of writing my thoughts on paper was too simple to be of any assistance in my mental health journey. But those same repetitive thoughts in our minds that tend to drive us crazy are better you get them out onto paper and out of your brain. So, what made me decide to give journaling another try? It wasn’t a prompt or a new notebook (though I love a new notebook), but a video I saw on YouTube that suggested replacing your tendency to doom scroll when bored with writing in a journal.
The concept was simple. Instead of picking up your phone to scroll when bored or anxious, you pick up your pen to write. My current therapist also suggested really elaborating on my feelings and breaking down my thoughts much like one would with a journalism assignment. For example, don’t just say you’re sad, use the Feelings Wheel to pick out specific feelings you are experiencing. Then, explain exactly why you’re feeling that way. For example, use statements like “I feel (feeling) because…”; “I have been feeling this way since…”; “When I feel this way, I do/do not…”. Really try to break it all down. It will help unravel the complicated threads of emotions in our brain.
So, after writing for over three months straight, what are some things that I have learned in my short journey as an almost everyday “journaler”?
You Will Repeat Yourself
Life is not like the movies. This is a lesson that is easy to listen to but harder to absorb and really process. Most days, you might feel like you have nothing to write about. Your days might even blend together when it comes to work and home life. But it’s important that you keep elaborating on your feelings and anxieties and get them out onto paper. Even if you feel sad three days in a row, keep writing about it. This process helps my anxiety.
You Don’t Need To Worry About Sounding Like An Author
Journaling is often romanticized on social media and in movies. But this journal isn’t about elaborate prose or building your vocabulary like you’re back in school and studying for SAT’s, it’s about exploring our messy, complicated, or sometimes simple emotions. Don’t worry about how you sound or if you have to scratch or scribble out a word. Your work isn’t being graded anymore. This is about getting everything circling the drain in your mind out of your thoughts and onto paper.
When Days Are The Same, Get Creative With Your Tools
Journaling is repetitive and for some of us, especially those of us with ADHD, it can be hard to maintain a habit when you start getting bored. I recently got into the fountain pen hobby and this has helped my journaling. I use different pens filled with different colored inks on a daily basis. My journal is full of different colors that have no rhyme or reason except to look pretty and excite my eyes. Check out Amazon for a pack of glitter pens or colored gel pens. If you usually write in black, choose blue or even a pencil. The variety can help keep you interested.
Missing A Day or Two Won’t Ruin Your Habit
Oftentimes I don’t journal on the weekends. The reason is purely logistical or related to my ADHD. When I am out of the office (I journal during break at work) and out of a regular schedule, I struggle with keeping my habits. Weekends tend to be a free for all for me when it comes to a schedule. As someone that is childless NOT by choice, I don’t have a sleep schedule I need to adhere to (I probably should, though.). And unless I have weekend plans, it’s easy for me to lose track of the day on the couch. Unless something occurs or I have a mood swing or bad mental health day, it’s not uncommon for me to skip journaling on the weekend, but I get right back to it on Monday and I haven’t lost this habit yet.
You Will Eventually Look Forward to Journaling
Eventually, I started to realize that getting my thoughts out of my brain and onto the paper helped my anxiety. I’m going through a few things with my health at the moment and I have recorded those instances in my journal as well. When I am feeling extra anxious, I might reach for my journal and do a double entry or just continue the entry from earlier in the day until I physically, and mentally, feel better. I now know that on harder days, I have my journal to turn to vent in a healthy manner, which also helps avoid trauma dumping or repetitive complaining to your friends.
What have you learned from your journaling practice? Make sure to share that in the comments below. I hope to continue this habit and will update you if I happen to gain anymore insight.
