Self-Care Strategies: Have you tried Journaling?

People fall into two buckets. People who journal. And people who don’t. So, give me 4 minutes (5 tops) to convince you that “Journaling” might be a self-care idea for you.

Whichever bucket you fall into, writing isn't the only way to journal. Don’t get put off by the image of a leatherbound notebook, laid out on a clean, tidy desk, with a candle and steaming cup of herbal tea nearby.

For some, it’s an inspiration.

For others it’s an unrealistic fantasy.

Think outside of the box... and the bucket. 

Most online platforms and social media channels were created to support different ways of journaling.

1. AUDIO. Recording your thoughts, ideas, feelings, plans on something as simple as the voice recorder on your phone, or as complex as a microphone and audio editing software. Why do you think there are so many podcasts out there?

2. VIDEO. YouTube, SnapChat, TikTok. Does anyone remember Vine? These platforms blew up because they allowed folks to publish and/or store their thoughts and feelings on video.

3. PHOTO. A photo journal is classic, whether you're taking your own photos or creating collections of photos you find, that represent your thoughts, observations, intentions, goals, and plans. Shout out Pinterest, Flickr, Tumblr, and Instagram.

Get creative.

What other tools do you have in your toolbox?

1. VISUAL ART. Like a photo journal, two- and three-dimensional art are classic forms of representing what's in your head and heart. Whether it's kept private or shared with the world, painting, drawing, sculpting, needlework, etc. may be the way for you.

2. PERFORMING ART. You don't have to be a trained as a performing artist to use music, dance, or acting as a way to express and explore your thoughts and feelings.

3. LITERARY ART. Stories, novels, articles, poems, or writing a play. Maybe you'll write it in that leatherbound notebook. Or not. Maybe you'll type it out on a keyboard, store and publish it in a blog, a hard drive, or a folder of lined paper.

Back to the buckets.

Let's look at those buckets, and see how it might work for you.

CREATE AN INTENTION. Why are you going to document these thoughts, feelings, and plans? Depending on which bucket you see yourself in, this might look different.

People who journal might be comfortable with intentions that sound like

• Creating a life full of joy, love, and purpose

• Document how I'm feeling

• Becoming my best self

People who don't journal might be more comfortable with

• Life goals

• Brain dump

• Getting my life together

IDEAS FOR ENTRIES. Let the intention guide the entries in your journal.

People who journal might fill their journal with thoughts like

• Five things that bring me joy and satisfaction

• Three areas to focus on to improve my life

• New things to explore and why

• Vacation highlights

People who don't journal might include

• Five things I did instead of eating the pizza

• Three weaknesses in my routine and how to fix it

• Bucket list!

• Song about hiking

• Instagram post: Breweries I visited on my trip

• SnapChat: My hotel nightmare!

Have we convinced you? Did we give you some new ideas and inspiration? Give it a try! Journaling and other forms of expression have been shown to help people cope with traumatic, stressful, and emotional events, as well as wound healing.

More journaling ideas and alternatives: https://mywellbeing.com/therapy-101/alternatives-to-journaling