Journal Your Way Toward Improved Mental Health

“Dear Diary…” When you think of “journaling,” you might envision a teen girl sitting on her bed and pouring her heart and soul into a notebook. You may have been this kid.

But expressive writing is much more.

Journaling is a powerful tool for adults, too. It’s a form of self-expression that can bring words, insight, and understanding to complex feelings and patterns of thinking. It also encourages us to slow down and focus.

Most importantly, expressive writing is about being in a relationship with your mind. It can be tempting to believe your thoughts and feelings own you, or you have little agency over the contents of your mind. The truth is you create your thoughts and only you can uncreate them.

Writing enhances our mental health by easing us into awareness of our unexpressed emotions. This helps us process stressful experiences, and decipher the meanings we attached to these
events.

How Journaling Positively Impacts Mental and Physical Health:

Boosts mood/affect
Helps you prioritize your worries
Brings pain and discomfort into consciousness
Increases preparation for important events (exam, job interview)
Shows positive outcomes among medical populations via positive affect journaling (PAJ), an emotion-focused self-regulation intervention
Reduces intrusive and avoidant thoughts about negative events and improves working memory, according to research published in The Journal of Experimental Psychology, (Vol. 130, No. 3)

Journaling Tips

Choose a private space free of distractions.
Write about what feels right for you, which could vary daily.
Write at least once per day, or when you’re feeling creative or stuck.
Set an intention: Will this entry be free-flowing (brain dump) or specific to a situation or mood?
Pay attention to the transition from writing to your next task—you may need time to decompress until you feel balanced.
Know when you’re feeling emotionally heavy. You may want to write about the feelings, and not necessarily about a traumatic event.

To some, the idea of staring at a blank piece of paper is daunting. If this is you, try a guided prompt to get the words out of your head. Seeing your thoughts outside your mind can be a relief.

Guided Journaling Prompts: