There are many reasons to journal for self-care. It can be more powerful than you know. Writing down our thoughts and feelings is a way that we can not only express ourselves but maybe identify what’s behind why we feel stressed, why we are anxious, and perhaps even why we’re depressed.
How to journal for self-care? Grab your self-care journal, and pour your heart onto paper. Write about what’s causing stress, your insecurities, and the positivity in your life.
- Choose a quiet place. Going to a calm place like a quiet room, park, library, or coffee shop is essential to meditate on how you feel.
- Be consistent. Journaling can be therapeutic. The more we take the time to write down our feelings, the more we can be intuned to what’s truly going on inside. For instance, when you talk out a problem with a friend. Sometimes the friend doesn’t have to say anything, but you feel better afterward. That’s because sometimes we need to talk out our feelings. It’s the same thing with writing.
- Do not hold back. You don’t have to be perfect when writing. Don’t worry about grammar or spelling. Just write, and you may be surprised what you find you have bottled up inside.
How does journaling help with self-care?
Since you are writing down your feelings, journaling helps because you don’t have to worry about being judged by something you say or are trying to say. So often, we talk to a well-meaning friend, and they don’t understand.
We love and appreciate our friends, but the truth is not everyone will be able to relate to or understand the circumstances or situations we go through.
Keeping a self-care journal can help you reflect and see the progress you made or identify areas where you may need to make adjustments in your life.
For example, when I look back on my teen years, I realize how embarrassingly horrible I dressed or how I could have been a better friend. So why can I see those things now that I’m older? To sum it up, I’ve matured and learned from different life experiences.
Writing down your feelings, situations, and problems and then reflecting on the progress is very rewarding.
Reviewing your journal pages over time and seeing how you have changed will help to motivate you to continue to take care of yourself and be alert to things that disrupt your peace.
It’s a proven fact journaling for self-care is beneficial for your mental health. Notice what today.com says.
Studies have shown that various types of journaling can help reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, improve memory, and even boost immunity. “Journaling also improves mental health and allows for stress relief because it can provide a safe space to unload your pent-up thoughts and feelings,” said Dr. Carla Manly.
Each day when we turn on the news, at the very least, one piece of information is distressing. On top of problems and situations we go through personally. A self-care journal is an excellent place to start helping our minds heal from the trauma of everyday life.
Journaling about the positive things in our life can also help boost our mood. So take the time to make a gratitude list. It will help us find more happiness in life.
Something I’ve been thinking about doing is creating a gratitude journal. This way, I can write down why I’m thankful.
When going through hard times, gratitude will help keep us grounded, positive and compassionate about other people’s situations.
Best journals for self-care
You don’t need anything fancy to start journaling for self-care. But a pretty journal is always more fun. If you have specific goals that you want to reach, a guided self-care journal would be perfect.
After some research, here is a list of great self-care journals.
Gratitude journals
- Gratitude Finder®
- Clever Fox Gratitude Journal
- Habit Nest The Gratitude Sidekick Journal
- Daily Gratitude Journal for Women for a More Fulfilling Life
Guided self-care journals
- The Self-Care Planner by Simple Self
- Mindfulness Journal for Mental Health
How to create a self-care journal
Starting a self-care journal can be overwhelming. Start first by creating a plan. Create a self-care plan, think about areas in your life that you want to improve, and then set goals.
Goals could be improving our sleep habits, mood, or health. For example, you may aim to feel more confident or improve your self-worth. Whatever your goals, write them down in a self-care journal, and try to be consistent.
FYI: I use a chalkboard that I have in my kitchen with the goals I have for the week. Placing the chalkboard in the kitchen forces me to see my daily goals!
A goal I have been working on is sleeping better and having a consistent night routine. Check out my last post, “3 Surprising Ways to Boost Your Self-Care Night Routine”.
