How to Journal for Your Mental Health

Journaling is not a thing of the past but one of the present. By journaling, you could express every overwhelming emotion you feel and channel it into a healthy outlet.

This is a place where you are free from judgment and punishment. It is a place where you can be you with no reservations or restrictions.

Journaling can help manage anxiety, stress, and depression. However, how exactly do you journal for your mental health?

Look no further. Here are tips on how to start journaling to actively manage your mental health today.

1-Take it Easy

When you start, don’t set strict guidelines for yourself, such as filling the page. There are days where you’ll have more to write than others, so don’t feel guilty for not using the entirety of the page.

Write in a way that is realistic for your lifestyle and writing endurance. Don’t worry about writing neatly or being grammatically correct because it’s only meant for you.

Journaling should be an outlet for venting and healing, not another source of stress in your life. It’s important to ensure that journaling remains a cathartic experience rather than a chore.

2-Get Into a Routine

Creating a routine for your journaling could be the best thing you do for your mental health. It provides a structure that helps you attain a better grasp on a life that seems out of your control.

You are in control with no surprises. Your routine could be as simple as ending the day by journaling with a cup of tea.

During this time, you can de-stress and reflect on your feelings and experiences from that day.

It may be difficult at first, but with a little bit of commitment, it’ll become a permanent part of your day. So much so that your day would feel incomplete without it.

3-Let It Out/ Don’t Hold Back

When you’ve established your time to journal, be ready to let it all out! This is a place of complete confidentiality.

You are free of censorship. There may be things you’re scared to admit, but seeing it in your handwriting is a feeling of release like no other.

Like most of us, there are always things that we want to get off our backs, yet there are few nonjudgmental outlets.

Letting your insecurities, troubles, and stresses build up could compromise your mental health. Journaling is the private release you’ve been seeking. There’s nothing for you to lose.

4-Reflect

After a few months of journaling, it is important to reflect back on your past entries. You’ll be able to identify patterns within yourself and recognize your improvement.

Be sure to compare your first few entries to your more recent ones. When it comes to managing your mental health, it’s important to celebrate small victories.

Improvements in your psyche are not a reason to stop journaling, but a reason to continue! Mental health is a life-long uphill battle that requires a lot of maintenance and care, but you are worth it.

By: Vivianna Shields