Is journaling worthwhile, or is it just another passing trend?
Well, for me, being a child of the 80s/90s, journaling conjured up memories of ‘Dear Diary’ and writing about who you fancied, and who your best friend is (or isn’t), but, being an avid list-writer, and a lover of beautiful stationary, I thought I would give journaling a go.
I had noticed some time ago, I constantly keep myself busy, especially when I’m stressed, every minute can be used to ‘get something done’. Yet, I also noticed, I was combining this with massive procrastination and using my time to do unnecessary jobs in favour of the important tasks on my to-do list. My brain was scattered, and I was finding it hard/impossible to switch off.
There is a belief that to-do lists aren’t good for us, but for me, making a clear list feels like it was taking that burden (of remembering what I have to do) out of my head and onto paper. Journaling is similar but it is more an unfolding of your thoughts….
With the help of Lovendu and their gorgeous diaries, and also a really clear journaling guide sent to me by a lovely friend of mine (who happens to have completed a degree in Psychology), I began.
Lovendu have created 5 of the most beautiful (did I mention this already?!) diaries to help untangle the thoughts in your head; including a Health Journal, Anxiety Journal, Overthinking Journal, Self-love Journal and a Well-Being Journal – which is where I thought best to start my own journaling journey.
Each Journal contains its own guide and rules – which I know sounds strict, but like anything, if you’re going to get the most from something, do it properly, the Well-Being Journal also contains affirmations, self-care ideas, exercise tracker (anything from a walk, to cleaning the house counts), a space to write your goals and a mood tracker. Each day, you journal what you are grateful for that day, you write your own positive affirmation, what you achieved that day, what your self-care was and what mood you were in, there is then more space to write anything extra you’d like to add for that day. This alone is a lovely way for you to take note of the good you have accomplished that day, but also to spot any behavioural patterns in your mood.
Scattered between your daily notes, are different exercises which further help you unravel your thoughts and the way you react to them. For example, there is a Countering Negative Thoughts section which really helps you rationalise your feelings – it is SO therapeutic. Over 14 weeks, the Well-Being Journal teaches you how to speak more kindly to yourself, calm a busy mind and self-evaluate in the most positive way.
I am only 4 weeks in, and I am already starting to understand my thoughts better; I have realised I am an unhealthy perfectionist, and focus almost entirely on any mistakes I make (sometimes they aren’t even mistakes, merely something that I would’ve like to have done better) and my thought processes had allowed me to believe that this is how colleagues/bosses/work associates think of me too. Journaling has opened my eyes to the good that I do too, and to rationalise my ‘failings’ and put them into perspective.
Unsurprisingly to me, was my lack of dedication to prioritising my journaling each day (all part of the procrastination and prioritising myself last) so I have been aiming to give myself just 15 minutes a day to journal – and 15 minutes to brain dump is making such a huge difference to my overall daily productivity and mood.
I am not part of the ‘woke brigade’ and I have to be honest, I think there are many times when (many of) this generation are being taught by social media to focus far too deeply on their every thought and feeling – where they have begun to dwell too severely on any stressful thought or feeling, affecting their overall mood as well as their outlook on life.
Having said that, the generation of my parents and grandparents perhaps didn’t express their feelings well enough at all – stiff upper lip and all that. My take on it, is that feelings are meant to be felt. I always say to my kids “allow yourself to feel what emotion it is your experiencing, but don’t stay in that place too long” And for me, journaling is allowing me to not only take my own advice, but to reason with my inner critic too – it turns out, she isn’t so perfect either…..
https://lovendu.co.uk/ Wellbeing journal £20