Why Journaling is Key to Relieving Stress
&
Mind Wellbeing
Why Journaling is Key to Relieving Stress
There aren ’ t many ancient Japanese arts that have managed to stay relevant in a modern fast-paced world but writing down your thoughts and feelings to relieve stress is one of them . Thanks to the pressures of modern life , everyone from high-flying CEOs to stay-at-home mothers now describe themselves as ‘ feeling stressed ’, but it seems the best way to deal with these pressures is through seemingly simple practices like journaling . Not to be confused with your angst-ridden teenage diary , taking the time to get your emotions down on paper every day , both the good and bad , is essential to cleanse your mind of the negative feelings that might be weighing it down .
“ This pouring thoughts out on paper has relieved me . I feel better and full of confidence and resolution .”
- Diet Eman , Things We Couldn ’ t Say
Instead of bottling up your emotions or feeling guilty every time you rant to your partner / best friend / work colleague about what ’ s stressing you out , journaling gives you the freedom to express all the things that hurt , confuse or anger you , without the fear of judgement or criticism from others . Think of it as the emotional equivalent of clearing out your email junk folder or spring cleaning your house . Once you have purged yourself of all the things on your mind , you will immediately feel lighter , more balanced and ultimately , calmer . You will also have a clearer head to put things into perspective and let go of the things that no longer seem important now that you have seen them written down on paper . The more you journal , the more you learn about yourself and your emotions , and the better equipped you become at dealing with stress before it snowballs into an uncontrollable monster that rules and ruins your life .
Get Started
• Find yourself a notebook , a pen and a comfortable seat
• Don ’ t think about spelling , grammar or punctuation – just start writing !
• Dedicate at least five minutes a day to your journal or more if you can
• Once everything is down on paper , let the negative emotions go and start feeling better
Sources : Good Reads / HealthWomen . org
ISSUE # 02 | WINTER 2016 | SkinHealthMagazine . com 8