By Rachel //
Journaling is a habit that has been cultivated in me since I was a child. While it initially started off as a chore — I was forced to pen down my thoughts and punishment would await me if I did not write in my journal — journaling became a hobby that I grew to love. As I matured, I realised that even though this hobby of mine has less than ideal memories attached to its beginnings, I cannot deny that journaling has made me so much more insightful and reflective, allowing me to appreciate the little things in life.
1. Journaling helps to keep your thoughts organised.
As somebody who often suffers from brain fog, my thoughts tend to be all jumbled up and messy on days when I am feeling down. I usually use journaling as a mechanism to navigate these thoughts and to sort them out. Sometimes, I find that penning my thoughts down in my journal helps to lessen the weight of the mess in my brain. Once I see all my thoughts laid out on paper, it usually helps me relax a bit when I realise that things are not as complicated as my brain makes them out to be.
2. Journaling helps you to cultivate an attitude of gratitude.
It is inevitable to get lost in the hectic mess of our lives with so much going on and so much to worry about, from being troubled by expenses to dragging ourselves to work or school. It is difficult to have fresh perspectives on life, especially on the bad days when problems seem ceaseless. When I write down the events of the day, it gives me time to reflect on my day and process all my thoughts and feelings. This sometimes leads me to realise that life is not as bad as it seems and that there is actually a lot to be grateful for. Journaling helps me internalise the fact that I have survived 100% of my bad days and makes me more content with life when I list down the things that I am grateful for.
3. Journaling helps you become more in-tune with yourself.
In our lives, we often act in the spur of the moment without thinking things through, which could result in undesirable outcomes such as misunderstandings as a result of the lack of self-awareness.
// When I give myself time to journal, it is a protected time for me to spend time with myself, often giving me insight into who I am as a person and how I can grow from here. //
Journaling helps to increase self-awareness by helping you reflect on your day and actions, giving you the opportunity and space to learn from your mistakes and blossom.
4. Journaling as a fun keepsake.
Keeping up with this habit of journaling does get challenging, especially because I have become busier as the years go by. However, whenever I feel like giving up on this routine, I tell myself that in the future, I will have something fun to look back on. Sometimes, I flip through my Primary School journals just for fun and read through all of them. It never fails to intrigue me as I realise how far my character has grown from my Primary School days. Furthermore, it makes me realise how satisfied I am with myself now, compared to the child who never felt good enough.
Journaling is easy to start but a tough habit to commit to. For me, I tend to set 15 minutes of my time to write as much as I can, only continuing to write after the 15 minutes if I feel like it. You would be surprised at how much you will manage to write in such a short span of time. I feel like journaling is a fun habit with no negative consequences and is something that has truly impacted my life.
For those who want to start journaling, a tip would be to not worry about the aesthetics and just write whenever you feel like journaling — it can be once every other day or whenever you feel like you need to vent. It does not even have to be a physical journal but can be as simple as your Notes app on your phone!
Ultimately, journaling is a personal thing and how you want to journal is entirely up to you.
Happy journaling!
Rachel is a 19-year-old who is deeply passionate about mental health advocacy. Besides writing, she dabbles in photography and enjoys curling up in bed with a book.
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