Have you ever considered writing a journal to help with mental health?
Thursday, 10 October 2024
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Have you considered keeping a journal?
Journal writing is an effective way of getting to know yourself better. It’s a powerful way to gain a greater understanding of who you are, how you came to be that way and where you’re heading at any one point in your life.
Keeping a track of your thoughts, feelings and events makes the process of journaling a very honest and revealing art! It’s a way to hear yourself, record and then re-approach problems or difficult situations with greater clarity. Journaling lets you affirm and challenge your beliefs about yourself.
Writing a journal is different to writing a diary, rather than a day by day account of your actions and thoughts, it can also be a space that allows you to explore how you're feeling about different things, and can include drawings, collage and other artistic forms of expression.
How do you get started?
Don’t be misguided into thinking that it has to be an exercise of perfection or beauty, because you may never start one! Journals may be started in many ways including, writing about the first thing you think of, your thoughts around words such as love, peace or conflict, an event that happened in your childhood, something that happened yesterday or something that you can’t stop thinking about. Pictures, colour and drawings in your journal may enhance your ability to bring out your deeper emotions and thoughts.
- Try to write in your journal each day, even for just a few minutes.
- Encourage enjoyment by using a journal with an attractive cover and high-quality paper, or a special pen.
- Don’t underestimate the emotional energy involved in writing about traumatic events. Plan to do a transition activity, such as watering the plants or reading a magazine, before resuming normal activities, like studying.
- Beware the temptation to use writing as a substitute for action. — Don’t use your journal as a forum for uncensored complaining. Blindly venting anger may make you feel angrier.
Many people enjoy writing journals because of the tactile experience of pens, papers, and bound notebooks, but there are also lots of online platforms that allow you to create a digital space to capture your thoughts and feelings.
Looking for some inspiration
Photographer and activist Dan Eldon created elaborate journals that mixed photography, writing and drawing. After his tragic death his family published a selection of the 17 journals he had created throughout his life. His story was brought to the big screen in The Journey is the Destination.
Author Stephanie Dowrick published a guide to journal writing 'Creative Journal Writing' In it she describes journal writing as an opportunity to capture your thoughts without censorship, step outside boxes, or turn them sideways, make fresh connections or see what is familiar with new eyes.
Create Your Own Calm: A Journal for Quieting Anxiety, by Meera Lee Patel is a book that includes lots of prompts to start your writing journey. It also features lots of quotes from inspirational thinkers.
Find out more
Download the tip sheet on writing a journal put together by the ECU Psychological Counselling Support team, and checkout others in the series. You can also make an appointment to chat to a member of the counselling team