The Value of Journaling Everyday
At the beginning of 2020 I set a goal to start journaling more. I had never been able to consistently keep a journal but thought it would be a great way to document what I was learning throughout the year. I decided this was the time I would finally commit to it!
One-and-a-half years and nearly four full notebooks later, journaling is one of the first things I do every morning. When I started journaling I didn’t really have expectations, but over the past 1.5 years it has helped lead me to more breakthroughs and growth than any other habit in my life. It’s something I consider a foundational part of my daily routine and count on to help me become the person that God created me to be.
In preparation for writing this blog I decided to go back through my journals from the past 1.5 years to see what most of my writing had been about, and what I could learn from the lessons of the past. It was such a fun experience to be able to peek back into my own world and be reminded of everything that took place. (It also didn’t hurt that 2020 ended up being such a crazy year. It certainly gave me a lot of writing material!)
What my time of reading through my old journals showed me was that journaling has the power to help us process our thoughts in the moment, but it can also remind us of old lessons (and hopefully help us avoid needing to relearn them in the future!).
Before I created the habit of journaling daily, I never understood the value it held or why I should care to write down my thoughts each day. Now that I’ve experienced what a helpful tool it is, I don’t think I’ll ever go back. If you’re unsure if journaling would be helpful for you, then my encouragement would be to just give it a try and see what happens. You never know what you might learn!
Here are five reasons why you should start journaling on a daily basis:
It helps you process your thoughts and emotions.
This is the most obvious value of journaling, but again, until I actually committed to journaling every day I never really reaped the benefits of this practice. You’ve probably heard the phrase “you don’t know what you don’t know.” That’s how I felt about journaling. I didn’t realize how many of my thoughts, fears and ideas were begging for attention until I started creating space to give it to them. Every day when I start writing I am surprised by what comes up in my mind and how therapeutic and encouraging it can be to better understand myself. I always end my journaling time by writing out a prayer. Getting to lay my thoughts before God in such a vulnerable and honest way has helped me learn to pray more earnestly and more often.
It may bring out thoughts or emotions you didn’t even know you were having.
Have you ever been in a deep conversation with a close friend and all of a sudden you find yourself saying things you didn’t even realize you’d been thinking? This is what journaling feels like for me! Many of my biggest breakthroughs have come from journaling because it allows my mind to start processing and sharing without restriction. Oftentimes we can be quite guarded with our thoughts, but when you start really connecting with your mind and emotions, you never know what might come up. I know this might sound weird, but trust me, just give it a try!
It gives you space to dump your fears, worries and concerns so you don’t have to carry them in your head.
I’m sure I’m not the only one who has woken up in the morning and felt like my mind was immediately going a million miles an hour. Whether it’s from busyness or stress, sometimes it can feel impossible to get my mind to stop racing and just focus on the essentials. Whenever I feel this way I always go straight to my journal. Taking time to jot down the thoughts that are running through my mind helps me think for clearly and let go of the concerns that don’t need to be handled that day. It’s amazing how much of a difference it makes when you take a bit of time to honor and recognize your thoughts by writing them down. Doing this enables me to more easily let go of those worries or distractions so that I can move through my day with peace and focus!
It helps you prioritize times of stillness, silence and reflection.
My daily journaling time has taught me to slow down and be mindful in ways that carry outside of my writing time. It’s taught me how to notice what I’m feeling and to pay attention to the thoughts and emotions that come up when I begin writing. Because of the way I practice that while journaling, I now do a better job of paying attention to those things during my day. It’s made me more thoughtful and has taught me to appreciate the value of turning my gaze inward instead of always focusing my attention on what’s taking place around me.
It helps remind you of what you’ve learned in the past.
Journaling daily is also such a beautiful way to document your life. I love going back through my journals to be reminded of what I was doing and learning during different seasons. You never know what future you might need to be told by present you! When I read back through my old journals I can so clearly see the way that God was working in my life. It’s such a beautiful example of His goodness and faithfulness, and I’m so grateful to have those stories documented!
Tips to make the most of your journaling time:
Don’t have any expectations — just start writing!
Don’t force yourself to write for too long. Journaling is a muscle that needs to be built up, like any other. Start by trying to write for five minutes each day, and then work your way up from there.
Write freely without judging yourself. Don’t worry about your grammar, spelling or anything else when you’re journaling. Allow your thoughts to get onto the page as quickly as possible, so you don’t lose your train of thought trying to be perfect.
Revisit your old journal entries! One of the best parts of journaling is getting to go back through old entries and be reminded of the lessons you learned and the ways you’ve grown. I read through my most recent journals every six months or so, and it’s always such a fun time to reflect.
On that note, date your entries! I love being able to see exactly what I was thinking about on a certain date and noticing how my thoughts changed over time.
Hopefully these tips and ideas are the encouragement you need to start journaling on a daily basis. I know it might seem silly or intimidating to commit to something else, but what do you have to lose? I promise you there is so much that you can gain from taking time each day to recognize and learn from your thoughts.
If you’re interested in learning more about the power of journaling and how to create a consistent writing routine, then we’ve got just what you need! Next month we’re hosting a journaling workshop that’s all about how to unlock your mind and use the tools of journaling to help process your thoughts and track your growth. It’s going to be amazing! Use the button below to sign-up for the membership and get access to this exclusive workshop!