At the
end of every year, people make countless resolutions. One popular resolution is
keeping a journal, which can be great for emotional health. However, after two
weeks of faithfully writing, most people begin to write less and less, until
they don’t write at all. Now, in the middle of the year, it’s a good time to
start that habit back up again, but with the intent of sticking with it this
time.
Journal
writing comes equipped with a number of positive health benefits. It can help
you to relieve stress, increase self-esteem, and can even help those suffering
from mental illness. Not to mention, a well-kept journal can be a great
keepsake, as long as you keep it preserved. No matter your reason, if you’re
interested in starting and keeping a journal, here are a few tips to get you
going.
1. Choose Your Method
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Turning
to a screen at the end of the day to record your thoughts can actually increase
your stress. It’s much easier to relax and find your inner creativity when you
turn to a method that goes against our current obsession with technology. Put
your phone, tablet, or laptop away and get out that physical journal and start
writing.
2. Set Aside the Time
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Go ahead
and make journal writing a part of your schedule. You might choose to do it
right after dinner, or leave the journal beside your bed so you remember to do
it the night before. Some people feel more inspired in the mornings, and others
prefer to write just once a week.
You
might want to set a timer as well to make sure you aren’t spending hours
writing. Make it just 10 minutes every day, and this will help you to feel less
overwhelmed by a long journaling session.
3. Collect Mementos
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Remind
yourself to keep writing by collecting mementos from your day to include in
the pages of your journal. These mementos can be anything—photographs, ticket
stubs, a leaf from your morning walk, a paint chip from the home you just moved
from. Collect everything and glue it to your journal to make it more
interesting and to remind you of your new healthy habit.
4. It’s Okay to Be Random
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This is your journal, and you can do and say whatever you want with it. Experiment with poetry;
write a song; spell out several words that describe your mood that day; make a
collage from magazine cutouts. Do whatever feels natural and will keep you
inspired and writing.
5. Keep It Positive
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Even
though it seems like venting and cursing other people in your journal would be
more therapeutic, it’s actually the opposite. Staying positive is the best way
to restore your mood, relieve stress, and improve overall happiness. Instead of
writing about five things you hated about a certain day, write about five
things you loved, and see how your mood changes. We like to say, focus on the
“peaks” of your day, not the “pits.”
When
you’re ready to make the commitment to start a journal, visit our website. Our Rite in the Rain journals are made to withstand all types
of weather, which means they can go anywhere, join every adventure, and they have
a better chance of lasting through the years and preserving your memories
during that time.
What journal will you choose and
what will you write about?
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