I come from a family of prolific journal writers. Both my parents were consistent journal writers their entire lives. They taught me the importance of this simple habit and how it affects you mentally, spiritually, physically, socially, emotionally, and intellectually. That is a lot of ways journal writing can benefit you!! Here are just some of them. I’m sure as you write, you’ll discover many more benefits that help you personally and you’ll be so glad you write.
20 amazing benefits of journal writing you don’t want to miss out on!
- Reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety.
- Helps you calm down when you’re upset about something.
- Helps you see a problem more clearly and gives you the ability to visualize a solution.
- Helps you make sense of how you’re feeling about a situation or person.
- Enables self discovery. You are able to understand your strengths, weaknesses, fears, and greatest desires.
- Inspires creativity.
- Boosts memory.
- Helps you achieve goals and dreams.
- Increases your GPA and IQ.
- Improves your physical health by reducing blood pressure, improving liver function, and improving the immune system among other things.
- Strengthens communication and writing skills.
- Promotes better sleep
- Can increase your income.
- Improves your self esteem when you look back and see all you’ve accomplished, learned, or overcame.
- Gives you a more positive outlook on life.
- Strengthens your relationship with God as you recognize the blessings He’s given you.
- Creates stronger families as you write about the good and bad times and appreciate them and learn from them.
- Provides bonding moments as you read stories of past experiences with your family or friends.
- Increases your appreciation for nature as you do a nature journal.
- Gives you the mental stamina to get up and give the day all you’ve got.
Types of Journals
There’s a journal for everything! I used to think diaries were just for teenagers writing about who they had a crush on. But that’s not true! You can write about whatever you want. And you can write how often you want. Journaling is a way to record your life for your future self to look back on and for your posterity. Pick a way to record your life that speaks to you.
- Trip journal
- gratitude journal
- “best thing of the day” journal
- where I saw the Lord’s hand in my life today
- baby books
- scrap book
- blog
- vlog
- family meeting minutes
- bullet journal
- nature journal
- goals and dreams journal
- dream you had last night journal
- grieving journal
- weather journal
- scripture journal
- spiritual promptings/impressions/gut feelings journal
- planner
- family newsletter
- audio recording of your day/week/month/year
A Word About Nature Journaling
Nature journaling can be done anywhere: In the woods, a meadow, at the beach, a park, a busy street, even from your window! Nature journaling is the art of observing the outdoors and sketching something and making notes about it. It can be an entire scene such as the woods, or one tiny detail such as a bird on a lampost of a busy street. Sketch what you notice and write the details of time of year, weather, time of day, sounds you hear, other sights you see, smells, anything!
Ever since I read this awesome book on nature journaling, I have loved doing it!
Here’s a link to the book: Keeping a Nature Journal by Claire Walker Leslie.
Read my blog post about nature journaling here. It is so good for you!!
Also read my post with tips for journaling with kids!