In these articles we aim to keep bringing you as many options and ideas as we can, to ensure you will maintain a good level of mental and physical wellbeing, both at work and in your personal life.
We suggest activities for you to try that you may have never considered.
Sometimes we close our minds very quickly to things that will take extra time and effort from our already busy schedule, but we feel sure that if you are following our video wellbeing newsletters closely, you will discover new things to try all the time.
Please persevere and be patient with yourself when attempting something new. It can take time to notice the benefits of adding different mental or physical techniques into your lifestyle, but we are certain that you will be glad you invested your time and energy into developing your new skills.
With this in mind, today’s article is about journaling, something which has made a huge comeback in the past few years. From blogging and social media to bullet journaling and journal-based planners, many people are trying journaling to express creativity. However, a big trend within this is journaling for mental health.
The process of journaling can be dated back to Japan in the tenth century and is simply a way of keeping letters or diaries. This was something that ancient Japanese travellers did to note their thoughts through an array of different situations. Journaling has helped many wise and powerful people become better at what they do. Queen Victoria, Oscar Wilde, W.H. Auden, and Ralph Waldo Emmerson are just a few of the famous people who have used journaling over the years, and it formed an essential part of who they were.
Scientific research to support journaling is extensive. A study by Cambridge University found that it can help to improve wellbeing after events that were stressful or traumatic. Those who took part in the study wrote about events that had happened to them and found both their physical and psychological health improved.
Some of the many benefits of journaling include:
- Improved emotional intelligence
- Enhanced mental health
- Increased creativity
- Strengthened immune system
- Better communication skills
- More self-understanding and self-awareness
- Increased feelings of calmness and soothed anxiety
Journaling is a way to explore your emotions, turning feelings you are struggling with and find difficult, into creative and healthy outcomes. When you write down how you think and feel, it can make you slow down and focus on what is happening in your life right now. You are no longer running from your feelings, but instead listening to them.
Along with helping you find solutions to some of your problems, journaling can bring you a sense of calmness and inner peace. The benefits of journaling both directly and indirectly are endless. Many people who have shared their thoughts on its benefits, tell us that the impact of journaling has helped them through some of the hardest times in their lives, some from as young as 10 years of age. If you feel it would help someone in your life, why not encourage them to give it a try.
Read the next article on journaling which includes some helpful tips and ideas on what to do next if you think journaling might be for you.