JOURNALING 101

Over the last couple of months, journaling has somewhat become part of my daily routine and it has helped me tremendously. Up until recently, I didn’t have a way to fully let out my emotions. I’d just bottle it up all inside until I reached my breaking point.

As a fellow anxious human on this Earth, I try my very best to not burden others with my problems. Even though I am kind of an open book and if asked, I will probably speak my mind until I run out of things to say. But even then, I withhold A LOT. So I needed to figure out a way to get everything out there.

After speaking to my therapist about it, bless her soul, she convinced me that journaling might be a good idea. One week later, I had written my first journal entry. And let me tell you, I haven't stopped writing since.

WHERE TO BEGIN?

First things first, you should probably buy yourself a notebook. It could be a cute one that you find on Amazon or at Target, or it could be a plain Jane composition notebook from the dollar store. Whichever floats your boat and helps get the job done.

You might want a pen too, just saying, it'll be super helpful (lol).

Finally, just write. Don't think. Just write.

WHAT SHOULD YOU WRITE ABOUT?

You’re probably thinking, “okay sure, I’ll write, but what exactly do I write about?” Great question, thanks for asking! You can literally write whatever comes to mind. You can write about your day, jot down some daily affirmations or make a gratitude list. You can write about something that has upset you or maybe the creative gods will come to you and help you write a song!

It doesn’t matter what you write, as long as you write something that’s true to YOU.

Something that I found to be very helpful was looking up journal prompts. These helped me collect my thoughts and keep each entry organized. Organizing your thoughts and focusing on one topic can really help let the words flow onto the paper.

Cheesy? Maybe. Important? Definitely.

LISTEN TO MUSIC

When you’re writing, it’s really important to be able to concentrate on your thoughts and emotions. Some people can write without being bothered by the noise or any commotion happening around them. If you’re not that person, I recommend finding a playlist or listen to whatever helps keep you calm so that you’re free to let your thoughts flow onto the paper. I find that listening to instrumentals help me best. Spotify and Apple Music will be your best friends when entering the universe of journaling.

FINALLY, DON’T HOLD BACK!

The worst thing you can do, in my opinion, is hold back.

Through journaling, you will explore emotions and feelings in a healthier and more positive way. It will teach you to reflect on your reactions to certain situations and come to a conclusion on why something may have happened. From that, you will learn how to hold yourself accountable for your actions and admit to your doings. You grow and become more honest with yourself and the people you surround yourself by. The most important thing to remember is that you are doing this for you and only you.