Category: Writing

Writing: How True for Me

 

An author should glow through their text, seep under the skin of the reader. A singular line can reveal all about an author, if that singular line contains all the feelings and unspoken sentiments and grief and joy and deep longing of the author.

It sounds like an impossible task, which is why such lines are few and far between. In reality, such a line is effortless to achieve.

But not for me!

However, above all else, the following is quite truthful!

Journaling for Mental Health: How to Start Journaling and Keep at It

If you’re thinking of journaling for mental health, I can’t recommend it enough. Journaling is one of my top New Year’s resolutions for so many reasons. Journaling can do wonders for your health, providing you with a creative, cathartic release and allowing you to rid yourself of daily stresses. It also allows you to look back on your journey to reflect on personal patterns of behavior, growth and how you’ve overcome challenges that once set you back.

How to get started with journaling for mental health 

The most important thing about journaling for your mental health is simply getting started. Here’s how to do it.

1. Get a journal: You don’t have to use an actual journal if you don’t want to. You could simply “journal” by texting yourself every day, as long as you’re keeping a record of it. You could also type out your journal entries in an email to yourself, or simply write in a regular notebook or on sheets of paper. Whatever you want to use, designate a “journal.”

2. Decide the purpose of your journal: The overall purpose of your journal is for your mental health, yes, but consider more than that. Do you want to alleviate stress? Do you want to work through trauma? Do you want to write about your day because you feel like you don’t have anyone to talk to? Mentally prepare yourself for what your journal will be for. You can even use your first journal entry as a letter to yourself and your journal about the purpose. 

 
 

3. Write with consistency: Journaling will be more effective if you stick with it. Write down your thoughts, feelings, ideas, dreams, goals, etc. as often as you feel you need to. This might be daily, it might be a few times a day, it might only be once a week. Make time for it, though, and then pay attention to how it’s affecting you. Do you feel like it’s making an impact in relation to its purpose?

4. Let go of expectations: Your journal is for you. It doesn’t matter if it’s in incomplete sentences or if words are spelled wrong. It doesn’t matter if it’s just a list of things you thought of when you woke up that morning. It only needs to make sense to you.

5. Decide if you need more help: Taking care of your mental health isn’t always something you can do alone. Journaling is one way to try and improve your mental health, but don’t be afraid to seek professional help if you feel like you need it. 

 
 

Journaling prompts to get you started

Sometimes it’s hard to know what to write about, especially if you’re new to journaling. For the most part, you’ll be the only one who reads your journal, so you can write whatever you want. If you need some ideas for what to write about, though, try one of these prompts.

1. List three things you’d like to tell a friend, family member or partner right now.

2. Write three things you love about yourself.

 

3. What are you grateful for at this moment?

4. What is your favorite childhood memory?

5. Who do you trust the most and why?

 

6. What motivates you?

7. What is a negative childhood memory that you’ve been holding onto and how can you work through it?

8. What is one of your biggest regrets and what can you learn from it?

 

9. What has been one of your biggest accomplishments in your career? 

10. What are some of your biggest fears and why?

11. What is your top goal for this year? What about for the next five years?

 

12. How are you feeling right now?

13. Write three positive things you want to remember if you’re having a bad day.

 

14. How would you describe yourself to someone?

 

15. What brings you stress and how can you alleviate it?

Source:  cnet.com©

Photo credit:  MundusImages/Getty Images