Write It Down | Start a Journal

THE GIOIA WELL TEAM

Writing in a Journal Is Good for You

Writing helps me sort things out and gain clarity. It can be as simple as a grocery list, so I won't get sidetracked and make too many spontaneous choices. It can be something more critical such as writing my goals down and genuinely thinking through what exactly it is that I want.

Our minds are racing 24/7. We often verbalize what we want and desire or what we don't like, but we never let it go much further than that, and as a result, we often feel stuck.

It's so easy to say, "I want my next job to be better," but by writing it down, you can elaborate. What exactly do I want to be better? More money? A nicer Boss? Better clients? Elaborate all of this on paper so you can nail down what you want to achieve.

Start a Journal

If you don't have a journal, this is a perfect time to start one. Since Covid hit, so many changes to our everyday life have happened. If you live alone, you face isolation. If you usually work in an office, you now work from home and now have to manage your time differently. If you are a student, learning online might be frustrating. You can't socialize in large groups anymore. If you live with family, you are now in a "bubble," and privacy as you know it no longer exists.

Having a journal can help. Consider your journal to be your personal space. You can write what you want, about whatever you want; a no-judgement zone. Please don't hold back when writing in it. If you are concerned about privacy, find a hiding place.

Reduces Stress & Improve your problem solving skills

Stress can be harmful to both your physical and mental health. Writing about something troubling will help you deal with it healthily.

Along with reducing stress, writing in a journal will help you to improve your problem-solving skills. How many times have you been upset by a problem but you don't know what to do? The more you think about the problem, the worse it gets. Have you noticed that your problem only resolves itself once you are calm? When you're relaxed, you can think more clearly. If you want to fast track this process, write it down and don't hold back. Just go for it! Remember, this is your journal, and it's not for anyone else to read. The very act of writing everything down, with all of your raw, uncensored emotions, will help you make progress faster. It's also a safe way to process your thoughts before talking to someone that is bothering you or hastily solving a problem and making it worse.

Writing out your problem allows you to pinpoint what's going on, making it easier to calm down and assess the situation; this is better than keeping everything bottled up inside and having your mind wander with worry. When you feel better, you will be able to cope and communicate more effectively. If you find yourself in an extremely stressful situation, it's often a good idea to write everything down and put the journal away for the night. Read it over a day or two later will give you time to process the situation.

Track your accomplishments | Boost your self-esteem

Do you have any personal goals you would love to accomplish? Do you want to start a fitness journey and eventually run a marathon? Have you ever wanted to stop dying your hair and go grey, showing off a glorious mane of silver? Whatever your goal, just by writing it down and documenting your progress in a journal is an excellent way to achieve them and succeed. Writing it down puts you on the path of making them a reality. You can track and reflect on your progress. You can go all out - add photos and visuals; anything to keep you motivated.

Using your journal to track your goals is also helpful if you are a private person. Some people are comfortable letting others know their intentions, and they're comfortable in publicly posting them on social media. Still, depending on what the goal or intention is, not everyone is comfortable doing this. Either way, documenting your progress is an excellent way to achieve your goals. Your accomplishments boost your self-esteem, and for that reason alone, you should write them down.

Self-care

Writing can help in so many areas of your life, and using a journal is a helpful tool; it's your platform for you to put your heart on paper and take care of yourself. There is no right way to do this. It doesn't have to be fancy. Just a few notebooks and pens from your local dollar store is all you need to get started.

Do you have a journal? If so, are there any tips you'd like to share? We'd love to hear. Comment below to let us know.

Bene Vivere!

Gioia Well Team

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