Benefits of Journaling

Benefits of Journaling (Unsplash)

5 Powerful Health Benefits of Journaling

Journaling is a fixed part of my daily routine. The most significant benefit of journaling for me is that it helps me release any stuck emotions, thoughts or sensations that may keep me from living a balanced and meaningful life.

My journaling journey:

It all started when I was 12 years old. My mother bought me a diary when I started menstruating, I guess she thought I was moody, and I needed some place to vent (She wasn’t wrong). This turned into my journaling journey. I now recommend all my clients to journal in between sessions and it too has become beneficial for them.

5 Journaling Benefits

1. Reduces Stress. An overabundance of stress can be damaging to your physical, mental, and emotional health. Journaling is an incredible stress management tool, a good-for-you habit that lessens impact of stressors on your health. Plus, writing about stressful experiences can help you manage them in a healthier way.

2. Improves Immune Function. Believe it or not, expressive writing can strengthen your immunity

3. Keeps Memory Sharp. Journaling helps keep your brain in tip-top shape. Not only does it boost memory and comprehension, it also increases working memory capacity, which may reflect improve cognitive processing.

4. Boosts Mood. Want more sunshine in your life? Try journaling. A unique social and behavior outcome of journaling is this: it can improve your mood and give you a greater sense of overall emotional well-being.

5. Strengthens Emotional Functions. Related to mood is how journaling benefits overall emotional health. Journaling evokes mindfulness and helps you remain present while keeping perspective. It presents an opportunity for emotional catharsis and helps the brain regulate emotions.

Start small and be gentle with yourself. There’s no right or wrong way to do this. If you need some help check out @mindfulcounselingnwellness for journaling prompts. Happy Journaling!

Mindfully,

Allison