What are the "Real World” benefits of Journaling?

Of course I’m going to say there are many, but there really are tonnes...

Firstly, and I want to state this fact right at the beginning of this blog, Journaling has been proven scientifically to make you feel better, both physically and mentally – FACT – I have read various studies which have proved time and time again, the huge benefits of writing about your thoughts and feelings, or emotional writing as it is more commonly known amongst the scientific community.

The most recent study I have read stated that if you journal for 20 minutes a day for three months, and ensure that you’re writing about the hard times in your life, it can be transformative. After a week, you will most likely feel sadder, but over the longer term, the participants of the study felt better, having worked through some of the harder stuff.

The mental health benefits of emotional writing are fairly well known, but the physical health benefits haven’t really been talked about until much more recently.

Let me list a few of the physical benefits for you here.

It can reduce your heart rate
It can improve your mood
People who Journal, visit the doctor less, they have better health and could live longer.

It’s a BOLD statement I agree, but it has been proven scientifically. There is proper neuroscience behind this claim.

Furthermore, there are claims that expressive writing can help control cancer-related pain, poor sleeping patterns, lung functions in asthmatic patients and the severity of rheumatoid arthritis. It can also improve liver function, immunity, blood pressure and memory. Results are most obvious four to six months after the initial writing episodes. Amazing, right?

So, consistency is key. You have to go through the tough stuff to get to the good stuff. You’re training yourself, and training in any form can be tough, but eventually it will bring you results. Athletes & Academics are constantly in training; Journaling is no different. You will go through times where it may not seem that it’s not making any sense. Then, you will go through phases where every day, something you’ve written down, just helps in some way.

Self-awareness – when you Journal, you work through the hard times. But you will also write about the good times too. This grows your personal awareness and allows you to learn about how you process certain thoughts. That, over time becomes a super power. You start to figure yourself out, which has possibly been the best thing about Journaling for me, personally.

Building Resilience – when you come through a difficult time and focus your mind on the growth and how you’ve overcome that difficult time, it will feel amazing. In times of despair, it is difficult sometimes to see a way out. Through Journaling, when you figure out how to get out of the fog and things begin to clear, the resilience builds. The next time the fog begins to descend, you already know that you have the resilience to get through it again!

Self-compassion – If you’re going through something, you need to give yourself a break. Nothing will be gained from giving yourself a hard time. Think about it, the only person this is going to affect, is yourself. Why do we do it to ourselves, it’s almost unfair… but often it’s human nature. The self-compassion that you learn through Journaling, is enlightening.

The other HUGE benefit of learning all about self-compassion is that it increases the empathy you have for other people’s situations. When you begin to understand what someone else is potentially going through, and you can relate, your compassion for them is increased. That is never a bad thing.

Gratefulness – One of the most common things that people talk about when it comes to Journaling, is writing down things that you’re grateful for. Why is that? Well, because it works. Often, we can get so wrapped up in our own worlds that we forget sometimes, how fortunate we actually are. Now, not everyone is fortunate, but gratitude is proven to lift your mood.

Think of it this way, if you’re writing down things that you’re grateful for, it is almost impossible to feel worse afterwards. It’s a little reminder too, to be happy about the things you have in your life. Sometimes, people’s moods are so low, they can find it difficult to focus on 3 positive things that are occurring in their lives. Think about the food in your cupboard, the cup of tea by your side or even the view near where you live, all 3 of those things are things to be grateful for. Honestly, try it. Write them down, experience the feeling of being grateful for something, and I promise it will lift your mood.

Let’s recap. Here's what Journaling can do for you in the Real World

It can help…

… your positivity
… you to focus more
… create good habits
… you overcome those self-doubts
… find the real you
… you heal
… improve your relationships
… create the life you deserve
… TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE.

Consistency is key. Make a promise to yourself to journal every day for a week. 15 minutes a day. Don't question it, just do it.