If the idea of keeping a journal has always appealed to you, yet you still haven’t made space in your life for one, consider this: journaling makes you more attractive, confident, and magnetic to your goals and dreams.
Journals are a non-judgmental place where you can reflect. (Luminaries such as Leonardo da Vinci, Marie Curie, Albert Einstein, and Frida Kahlo kept journals!) They are effective because they encourage you to think less rigidly and more creatively. Once you’ve written down your thoughts and ideas, they are out of your head and on the paper, leaving room for more inspiration to come through.
Here are some of the known benefits of journaling:
Self-Confidence
Recording your challenges and goals and then looking back at them via your own words is evidence of how far you’ve come.
Achieving Your Dreams
When you record your goals and intentions, you can keep better track of them. You become more accountable to yourself and you’re more likely to follow through on the action steps required to fulfill your dreams.
Improved Communication
Writing is like anything else: the more you do it, the better you become. Journaling gives you an opportunity to practice clear communication (with yourself!).Stress Reduction
If you’ve ever looped out on negative thoughts or emotions (who hasn’t?), then you know how draining it can be. Putting your feelings and worries down on paper helps release negativity. (As you write, you may stumble upon a solution to your problems you hadn’t thought of!)
Fresh Inspiration and Ideas
Journals are a safe space to let loose all the “unreasonable” desires, thoughts, wishes, and ideas you have, without judgment. Go big and open the door to just how magical and amazing it could be and see what inspiration comes through.Heal Your Past, Write Your Future
Interpretation is everything! When we take control of our own narrative, we direct how we see the past, how we inhabit our present moment, and how we will experience our future. Writing about our past allows us to get it all out and view things in new light so we can live fresh stories in the present and future. It also reduces anxiety, so we are able to be more present in the now moment.
How to Declutter and Organize
If you’ve lived in the same place for awhile, the prospect of a decluttering and organization project might seem a bit overwhelming initially. There are many philosophies and methods for doing this, and we recommend picking and choosing the ideas that make the most sense for you. Here are a few of the guidelines we implement when sorting and beautifying our physical spaces.How to Journal
First, there is no right way to do this. Guidelines can be helpful and should be taken with a grain of salt. Journaling is about you and what resonates. It is a self-care practice, and following your intuition is key. With that in mind, here are some types of journaling to consider:
Dream Journal: Right when you wake up, write down your dreams help get in touch with your subconscious.
Gratitude Journal: Before going to sleep, make a list of everything you are thankful for that day.
Stream of Consciousness: Write down your thoughts as they happen. Give yourself a set amount of time where the pen doesn’t leave the page. Nothing has to make sense; you’re simply following your consciousness.
Sketch Journal: Not into writing? Use doodles or sketches to express your feelings, thoughts, and ideas.
Lists: Write down your lists of to-do items, desires, favorite things, groceries, goals, whatever you want to make a list for. You can cross things off as you complete them and get a great sense of accomplishment and it might spark more creativity.
Daily Journal: Keep track of your experiences throughout the day. These often turn into other types of writing and can be incredibly funny and touching in and of themselves.
No matter how you journal, the rewards of this type of self-reflection are immense. Enjoy this powerful, transformative self-care practice!