I have been journaling on and off for a little over two years. In that time, it has been a consistent pillar of support whenever things get rough. Last December, I turned to my journal as a way to decompress for the holidays. What started as a few casual entries turned into an exciting discovery—a new way of journaling. That turned into a daily routine. And the routine brought a number of benefits along with it.
In this post, I want to share those benefits with you. I’ll then walk you through the different ways I journal—including the new one I stumbled upon.
What I get from journaling
- Free therapy
Before I picked up journaling, I read that it was a good form of therapy. This was apparent to me from the very beginning when I first tried it two years ago. It feels so good getting things off your chest. It’s also good to know you can always count on it being there for you. - Energizing
I have spent lots of time producing content on social media. It can be taxing, staying on schedule, being on brand, and talking about the same thing over and over. I found journaling in private had the opposite effect. It energized me. With no schedules, expectations, or restrictions, I could journal anytime and about whatever I wanted. I could also not journal and that, too, felt fine. - A second memory
My memory isn’t what it used to be thanks to parenting three young kids. I find details in the moment can easily get lost over time. One of my favourite things to do now is to read back through my journal and relive those moments. - Improved writing and communication
Writing is a skill, and with any skill, you improve through practice. The extra writing I do in my journal has helped me become a better communicator. - Creative expression
I discovered this benefit not too long after I found my new way of journaling. It was very unexpected. One day I noticed that I was experiencing similar feelings to when I make art. Those feelings of baring my soul, accomplishing something, and taking pride in what I’ve achieved.
How I journal
When I started journaling, I wanted to be able to do it on my phone because the device is always with me. I didn’t think too long about my options because I knew if I went with WordPress, I could export my content and take it wherever I want. I created a private WordPress site with the WordPress mobile app.
My initial posts in the app were like what I would think are typical journal entries. About everything and nothing. A good meal I ate. The smell of the forest as I walked by it. How somebody made me feel. It was all over the place. I did it whenever I wanted to. There was no real frequency. As life got busy, I’d stop. I’d pick it back up again when things got tough or when I was on holiday. Those entries are still really fun to go back and read now.
My new way of journaling
We’re now back at the beginning of this post. The start of the December 2024 holidays. I wanted to journal to decompress but I also wanted to take a break from work, computers, and devices. I wrote my first entry on my phone, hoping to get it all out of my head at once. I then put my phone away and picked up my sketchbook. Doodling in my sketchbook is another way I relax.
What started as a few casual entries turned into an exciting discovery
I started my sketch as I always do, by illustrating the date in a different way. Then I drew some patterns. I still had work on my mind, though. So I started writing some notes. It felt icky because I don’t normally write in my sketchbook. I went back and forth with the sketching and the notes. Then they started to blend together. The sketches and the notes. That’s when my new way of journaling was born!
Something clicked when I moved away from the work notes and started illustrating my own notes for fun. Lyrics from songs. My feelings at that moment. The weather. All kinds of things. That’s when I realized I was on to something new. I enjoyed it so much I’ve done it every day since.
That’s a wrap
Journaling has had such a positive impact on my life since I discovered it two years ago. With no right or wrong way of doing it, it’s really easy to get into. Plus it comes with so many benefits. Have you been thinking about getting started? Do you have any questions for me? Let me know in the comments.
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