Journaling as a Therapy During the Current Pandemic
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or many of us Journaling brings up the idea of our teenage self, doodling on notebooks. However, the art of journaling has a number of benefits. Given the current Covid19 Pandemic it is more important than ever to take steps to help ourselves emotionally process the challenges we are all experiencing. Journaling can be a cheap and easy method to do this. Firstly, what are the benefits of Journaling? Journaling is considered a powerful way to understand more about ourselves as it is simply giving ourselves the gift of time to write down all the thoughts that wander through our minds. The process of writing these thoughts down brings clarity and helps us release emotions. Journaling is also a method to boost our memory, relieve stress and organise our thoughts. Many people journal simply for themselves. However, for anyone wanting to be more creative, Journaling can help inspire thoughts and help create a routine of creativity.
How do you start Journaling?
Journaling doesn’t require any special equipment. A notebook and pen, or a laptop. A timer (as it is recommended to limit the time spent writing down difficult emotions) and then simply starting. I simply think of Journaling as having a conversation with myself on the page as a way to find out my thoughts and challenge any anxieties.
Some people struggle with how to actually start Journaling. This fear of being unsure of what to write can make us nervous about starting. It is important to remember that Journaling is about the process of writing down thoughts and not about creating something perfectly written, and you can start with any thought that comes to mind. However, it can be helpful to start with “I can see…” or “For breakfast I had…” and then simply writing. Don’t edit your thoughts, just jot down what comes to mind and let the words flow. Many recommend writing first thing in the morning as this clears our brains from all the thoughts and anxieties before starting the day. For anyone hoping to be more creative, daily Journaling can be a good way to spark creativity, but it really is simply the act of spending time with yourself and jotting down your thoughts. Journaling can be a To Do List. It can be a recollection of a dream you had. Some people write letters to themselves. Journaling is simply getting all the thoughts that swirl through our minds onto the page to help us gain clarity. By regularly spending a few minutes recording the thoughts we are experiencing
helps us identify and manage them. Covid19 has changed life in ways none of us were prepared for. It is important we take time to be kind to ourselves. Journaling can be a small way to begin to let our thoughts free from our mind, get to know ourselves better and ease our anxieties. It is a practice of understanding ourselves more. It is not for anyone but yourself. Give yourself time. Pick up a pen and let your thoughts dance on the page n
Top Tips: • Start with small ideas. E.g start by writing “For lunch… I can see…” • Journaling can bring up deep feelings so limit the time (20minutes can be plenty) • Remember this is for you. There is no pressure to write in beautiful words. • Don’t stop and edit your work, just keep writing. • Remember you don’t have to read it if you don’t want to. • Enjoy. We are living through a tough situation at the moment - it’s important to take care of ourselves. RETIREMENT
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Journaling as a Therapy During the Current Pandemic
By Carrie Jade Williams
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