The benefits of journal writing are fairly well established due to the
long history of journal writing. From Anne Frank to Di Vinci, journal
writing has proven itself.
Benefits of Journal Writing
When considering the benefits of journal writing, it is important to set
a few parameters. First, there is no age limit to using journals. There
are distinct benefits for children of all ages, but journal writing is
equally valuable to adults. The reason for this is journal writing is an
act of personal reflection. Whether it is a teenager reflecting on the
social nightmare of high school or an overworked parent taking twenty
minutes a night to write is irrelevant. The point is, all age groups
benefit from stepping back from their life for a few moments and
reflecting on things.
Whether you recognize it or not, journal writing provides you with an
anchor in your daily life. In the journal, you are free to write what you
want without restrictions, to truly address the issues in your life
without fear of criticism. Put another way, one of the benefits of
journal writing is it acts as a self-help psychiatrist, but for MUCH
cheaper!
As you write in your journal over time, you’ll also start to ascertain a
second benefit to doing so. This benefit is one of self-criticism.
Inevitably, you’ll read through past entries and review your life. Doing
so will lead you to self-reflection as well as thoughts on how you might
act differently should certain situations rise again.
Of equal importance, journal writing has health benefits. Before you
click away from this article, consider a time in your life when you were
extremely frustrated. Hopefully, you spoke to a friend to “get things off
your chest.” Didn’t you feel a lot better afterwards? Getting things off
your chest helps relieve stress, one of the biggest killers in our modern
society. Journal writing acts in much the same way since you are able to
write your thoughts without fear of criticism.
There are other benefits to journal writing, but all boil down to one
simple fact. Writing in a journal allows you to express yourself without
being judged. With the lack of privacy in our modern, digital world, that
is hardly a small benefit.
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