Benefits of Journal Writing
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.
About the author:
Rick Chapo is with http://www.nomadjournals.com - makers of
writing journals.
