Introduction
I used to think journaling was only for people who had a lot on their minds. But after I began implementing journaling into my daily routine, I learned the true power that one can harness from such a small action.
A few months ago, I saw a video of a person showing off their journal collection. Intrigued by the piles and piles of worn-down leather notebooks that encompassed his room, I thought to myself, “Wouldn’t it be cool if I had that?” The following evening, I picked up an old notebook in my room and just wrote about my day. My writing was a bit sloppy then, but I was able to jot down my thoughts from the day, which allowed me to calm down and get ready for sleep. Little did I know that one video would lead to the creation of a staple in my daily routine, allowing me to stay mindful while preparing to sleep.
Benefits of Journaling
Why does journaling work? When you partake in journaling, you can engage in self-expression, self-reflection, and self-awareness, which allows you to better understand your emotions, strengthen their memory, and relieve stress.
You are also able to express your thoughts about the day that you may not have been able to previously. At times, there are thoughts you may want to express that you cannot express during the day, and journaling provides an outlet for these thoughts.
Additionally, journaling can strengthen your memory. When you are getting ready to sleep and write in your journal, you need to recall the events that transpired during the day, which will practice your memory.
Furthermore, sometimes you just need to express your emotions. When you journal, you can relieve stress by articulating your feelings from the day. As a result, journaling can your sleep due to its stress-relieving nature.
Finally, journaling is a good replacement for mindless scrolling before bed. If you successfully replace scrolling with journaling, you won’t be on your phone right before you go to sleep, thus improving your sleep quality greatly!
How to Implement Journaling Into Your Routine
Journaling can be done whenever, wherever, and however, but my favorite method is journaling before bed. Try doing this next time you are getting ready to sleep:
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Find a nice notebook and a writing utensil. Make sure your phone is turned off and as well as all other distractions
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Just write! There are no rules to this. Write about how you feel, how your day went, and what you hope for the future. Whatever you want to do that makes you feel better
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Head off to sleep. Writing can make you a little tired, so after you’ve finished journaling, go to sleep!
Conclusion
Journaling can be a very beneficial practice to include in your daily routine, which can help you decrease screen time, strengthen memory, relieve stress, and improve your lifestyle overall!