Journaling has been around the world for centuries whether it’s Leonardo da Vinci, Beethoven, and Freida Khalo likes artists or Winston Churchill, Marcus Aurelius like leaders, so how do we define Journaling?
Journaling is a private record that you keep of your experiences in a journal or a diary, it’s a way of expression and reflection of oneself.
From the time of stoics, the great king, Marcus Aurelius, the ruler of a large part of the earth is famous for his insights and leadership, in his book, studies indicate that Marcus must have done journaling first thing in the morning. It’s no doubt that this skill must have helped him a lot with his leadership skills as he went down as one of the greatest leaders in the history of mankind. So, why can’t it help you?
“When you open eyes in the dawn, tell yourself: The humans I face today will be interfering, egoistic, rude, full of lies, jealous, and surly. – Journal of Marcus Aurelius
Why journaling could be an important ingredient for happiness?
Journaling is a vaccine to depression and anxiety: A 2006 study by Stice, Burton has been proven effective in battling depression as behavioral cognitive therapy among the age group of adults. Clearly, you will get a sense of satisfaction when you will bring your pain on paper.
Journaling for Happiness: We don’t need many equations and voodoo magic to understand that gratitude is the ultimate party maker, every prayer in the world is designed to make us more grateful towards bigger power, but with journaling, you get to be grateful for anything.
Scientific studies have shown that gratitude is almost a guaranteed way to feel happy instantly, before going to bed pick up your journal and write any 10 things that you are truly grateful for it can be as simple as ‘lunch for today’ or ‘a smile from your kid’.
Journaling for beating trauma: In a 2002 study by Provencher and Gregg it was indicated that journaling can play a major role in healing from trauma, sometimes, we keep things inside us for too long and without having any idea how harmful they can be in coming years, pick up your journal and write about your most horrific experience label it as ‘Assignment Help‘ and help yourself.
Journaling for better wellbeing: A well-being is something that’s a must for a great life, by writing a journal you can take further steps toward your well being as it makes you more mindful, more aware of your flaws, more attentive, more logic-oriented thinking, for wellbeing all you have to do is keep consistency in writing journal and you will notice more mental clarity and mindfulness in a month.
Journaling for good health: Do you know that many athletes keep a journal of what they eat and how much exercise they do well guess what that’s not only for athletes you can do it too, write your aim on the top page of daily journal and then start writing about your strategy for daily work that you have to put in to achieve or maintain the body you want or have. It’s also a great way to lose weight, heal disorders that can be cured through exercise and yoga, it is also important for your mental health as science says that you can’t have a healthy mind without having a healthy body.
Best time to Journal:
There is nothing like ‘you shouldn’t write journal now’ but just like any activity this also could be done at the best time to reap more benefits and those times are after waking up or before going to sleep.
Journaling before sleep: Writing something before going to sleep is one of the best ways to finish your day, do it if you want to reflect on your habits, working system, and lifestylebecause journaling before sleep allows you to go deep into what you have lived and witnessed through the day. You can notice patterns forming.
For example, you can notice how much time you are spending on the phone if your many worse and happy moments of your day are coming through notifications of social media, if it happens 2-3 days in a row then you need to change it.
Journaling after waking up: Writing a journal early after waking up is one of the best ways to set an intention for the day, to have an aim, and to collect the will to chase something. It’s more of a day planner and aim setter than a reflection of the day. Consider doing this if you are looking forward to having disciplined life.
Conclusion: Journaling is a low-cost give less and take more scheme where there is no limit to what level of upside it has to offer you all it takes is a pen, paper, and will to make your life better.