For most people, the thought of journaling brings to mind a teenager scribbling about their high school crush in extreme detail. But if you’ve followed the lives of successful people like Theodore Roosevelt and Benjamin Franklin, you may have noticed something they had in common – journaling. Most prominent people started journaling at a young age, and it paid off in many ways.
There’s no wrong or right time to start a journal. You can start journaling at any point in your life; however, there are specific times that journaling is especially helpful, such as to help you clear mental clutter, during recovery from surgery and addiction, to improve your self-discipline, and at the start of a new year.
Whatever your motivation for journaling is, it is a very beneficial practice. And if you don’t know where to start or what to journal about, you can use this article as a guide. The following sections share the benefits of journaling and how to start and keep up with the habit.
The benefits of journaling cannot be overestimated. From helping to clear mental clutter to improving your memory and aiding in healing and recovery, there are a plethora of reasons why you should start journaling. But when is the right time? It’s different for everyone. The following are some of the best times to begin journaling.
One of the many benefits of journaling is that it helps to clear your mind. On days that you feel overwhelmed with thoughts, transferring what you’re thinking onto a paper makes it easier for you to focus and analyze the situation for what it is.
Journaling helps clear the mind by:
Journaling is also an excellent habit because it facilitates healing. A study showed that continued journaling and expressive writing helps wounds heal faster. (Source: Medical Express)
Journaling has also proved useful in:
(Source: Jama Network and URMC Rochester)
If you’re stuck in the rut of continuously procrastinating your goals, journaling is an excellent way to motivate yourself and start doing instead of dreaming. With a journal, you’re in a better position to dig deeper into your purpose and create steps to achieving what you want. Not to mention, it’s a visual reminder of what you need to do.
Some of the ways you can use journaling to improve self-discipline include:
(Source: Medium)
You’ve probably heard people say that writing down your goals increases your chances of accomplishing them. They are not wrong.
Some of the ways to use a journal to achieve your New Year’s resolutions include:
(Source: Jebra)
Most people have the idea of starting a journal but never execute it because they don’t know where to begin or what to journal about. The following tips will help you start on the right foot:
You also don’t have to journal the way you see other people doing it. You can make it as personal as possible. If you feel like adding pictures, diagrams, or drawings, go for it. And most importantly, keep your journal private to avoid personal details getting into the wrong hands.
(Source: Penzu)
There’s no wrong or right time to start journaling. If you have the willingness to write, you can start any time you wish. Just take the time to brainstorm journaling ideas and think of things you could do to make the habit stick. For instance, if you work better with lists than blocks of text, you should consider bullet journaling. It’s all up to you.
As you have seen, there are incredible benefits that stem from the simple act of writing your ideas and thoughts on paper. So why wait when you can reap the benefits now? Grab a paper and start your journaling journey today!
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