Journaling: Myth or Miraculous?
Team OSCIE
Ahva Ghazanfari
When you were a little kid, you might have kept a diary in your room. It was a place where you could write about your emotions throughout all the events of the day, from start to finish, even if they were a little ridiculous. No one was allowed to read it; that was reinforced by the tiny just-for-show lock that held the front and back covers together. It probably felt good to get all of those thoughts and feelings out of your head and onto something tangible.
Now that you’re older, you might’ve stopped writing your thoughts down in a little diary, but the benefits and general concept are still the same; now it’s called journaling. Writing down your thoughts and feelings in a journal or a diary is a great way to clearly understand how you’re feeling. And, if you struggle with anxiety and/or depression, keeping a journal is a great idea. It can help you control your emotions and improve your overall mental health. There are so many other benefits in journaling that can help you:
- Manage anxiety,
- Cope with depression,
- And reduce stress
Journaling can seem a little overwhelming/intimidating when you first start out, so here are a few tips to help you kickstart your journey!
- Take time out of your day to write. Setting aside a few minutes each day for journaling can really help you to write in it regularly.
- Don’t overcomplicate it. Always have a pen and paper handy. When you want/need to write your thoughts down, you can!
- Do whatever feels right for you. Your journal does not need to be extremely structured or organized. Things will flow the way they want to, and everything will work out.
- Use your journal how you think it should be used. If you want to share your thoughts with others, feel free. If you want to keep them to yourself, go ahead!
In the end, you’ll realize that keeping a journal is beneficial because you can keep track of your thoughts and feelings. You’ll get to know yourself better through writing down everything that runs through your head, knowing that you’re doing something good for your mind and body.