Have you been looking for new ideas of ways to slow down, practice mindfulness, or adopt self-care routines? The act of journaling can do all of these plus stretch your IQ, help you set and achieve goals, boost your ability to perceive and respond to your emotions, engage memory and increase concentration, spark creativity, strengthen self-confidence, and promote healing. If journaling is new to you or seems daunting, start with a short 10-15 minute session once a week. This act of slowing down for a few minutes to reflect will likely have positive effects on you, and eventually this practice could grow into a new self-care routine.
Sometimes when we sit down to write or reflect, it’s hard to know where to start. One form of journaling is to do a “free write” where you put down whatever thoughts come to mind. In this method, don’t try to control what you write--just let it flow organically from topic to topic. Sometimes the act of turning our thoughts into words on paper can feel cathartic.
If you’d like more direction in deciding what to journal about, here are some prompts to consider:
What would you say to your teenage self?
Describe a recent pleasant experience.
What are 10 things/people that make you smile, and why?
What does unconditional love look like?
Reflect on things that bring tears to your eyes.
How do others see you? How do you see yourself?
Think back on some of your mistakes and consider what you can learn from them.
What matters most to you, and why?
What’s something you want to learn how to do, and what steps will you take to do it?
Whatever shape your journaling takes, observe what comes up. Notice any emotions or memories that may arise with gentle curiosity. Take pride in the fact you are prioritizing self-care by spending some time connecting with your mind through writing.
References
Nguyen, T. (2017). 10 Surprising Benefits You’ll Get From Keeping a Journal. Retrieved from https://www.huffpost.com/entry/benefits-of-journaling-_b_6648884?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAANhILdvlB4W7JvpQBxfC61LvExUYTOzwKMdwqQPWOWLhK1I2BKpSKQS-oxSPHQLE6CQEJqeZ7E6wRfd5-E0Dxkdmft_s2yvSXdfxNCdV7I6W44PtVBXzEqm7krXBhhnrfZx7LMZFfTV7vQSxeWF7x_Q1Ogr0hB0VYTQH-VViYuxd
Tartakovsky, M. (2018). 30 Journaling Prompts for Self-Reflection and Self-Discovery. Retrieved from https://psychcentral.com/blog/30-journaling-prompts-for-self-reflection-and-self-discovery/