There are many benefits to journaling, especially for those who enjoy writing with pen and paper. But even for those who haven’t yet found their passion for writing, they can still gain the positive outcomes of it if practiced. Here are 3 ways to get more out of journaling for those who are struggling to make it work, or for those who are open to new ideas.
- Use journaling as a food diary. This one is one of my favorite ways to use journaling. I write down all foods and drinks I’ve consumed in a day and jot down any weird symptoms I experienced that day. This helps me track any food sensitivities without having to rely on memory or guessing. Most recently I implemented olive oil into my diet and began having itchy skin. I immediately went to my most recent notes and it occurred to me that the olive oil and itchy skin symptoms began on the same day. I removed it immediately and much to my surprise, the itchy began clearing
- Use journaling as a therapist. This one might sound odd because a notebook isn’t a person. But the plus side of that is you’re free from judgement and can feel a little safer if you’re not yet ready to open up to another person. Dump your feelings, emotions, frustrations onto your paper and you’ll feel a lot better. You can even discard it later if need be. Hold nothing back. I love this method of journaling.
- Use journaling to get closer to your ideal lifestyle. Jot down pros and cons of your current daily lifestyle. This can include your current schedule, environment, job or even social life. Do this often enough until you start to notice patterns. Do you say yes to often? Or no too often? Are you working a schedule that is hindering your other goals in life? Do you prioritize socializing and feel good about who you spend time with or do you need to prioritize it more, or cut back for awhile until you find people who are more aligned. Or maybe you’re like me and enjoy spending most of your time alone, but aren’t sure how to prioritize solo time or how to start cutting back social time gracefully. Use this type of journaling style to really get honest, to come up with scripts, and scenarios that serve you, or to plan your next chapter in life. This is a good one to look back on when you need reminders, or before you make decisions or after to reflect how your decisions matches your goals.
I hope you find one or more of those three journaling styles helpful. Happy writing! 💟
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Pen and Page Journey 