5 Benefits of Journaling for Self-Love

Valentine’s Day is time for reflection about love and expressing our gratitude to the people that we hold deeply in our hearts. You may celebrate this holiday with a loved one including family, friends, or a spouse. On this holiday try not to forget about the love you have for yourself. Self-love is an appreciation and positive regard for yourself. One way to practice self-love is through journaling. There is no right way to journal. You may consider keeping a gratitude journaling, reminiscing on your happiest memories, reflecting on how you are feeling today, setting your intentions for the day, or even creating life goals for personal growth. No matter how you choose to keep a journal there are countless benefits for your mind. Here are 5 benefits of journaling for self-love:

1. Mental Health Benefits: According to the University of Rochester Medical Center, journaling can help manage anxiety and depression, and reduce stress.¹ Journaling provides the opportunity to write down fears and concerns, track your mental health symptoms each day, and most importantly give you the space for positive self-talk.¹
2. Set Your Goals: Writing down your goals for personal growth allows you to keep track of your progress and determine what obstacles are in the way of you achieving your goals.² Make sure your goals follow the SMART format. Click here to learn how to create SMART goals. Learn more about our in-home physical therapy and wellness services and how we can help you achieve your health and fitness goals.
3. Critical Thinking Skills: Journaling is the perfect place for self-reflection which has shown to develop critical thinking skills.² A reflective journal is when you self-reflect on something positive or negative and what you learned from that experience.
4. Space For Creativity: A journal can be a place to write down ideas and solutions to problems. Try your hand at stream-of-consciousness writing or using journal prompts for inspiration.²
5. Boost Your Memory: Did you know writing down information by hand is an effective way commit that information to memory?² Commit your past experiences, ideas, thoughts, insights, and goals to paper that may have otherwise vanished into thin air.

The best way to receive the benefits of journaling is to make it a daily habit. Try to commit to journaling at least once per day, perhaps in the morning before your day starts or in the evening to reflect on the day. Place your journal or notebook in a place you will see every day to remind you it is time to journal. For example, setting your journal with a pen on your bedside table would be good option if you plan to do right after you wake up or before you head to bed.

Journaling is simple habit you can do every day that will positively impact your mind and overall personal wellness. Live Your Life is a comprehensive mobile company focused on wellness, fitness, rehabilitation, and prevention. Click here to learn about our in-home physical therapy and wellness services.  

References

¹University of Rochester Medical Center. Journaling for Mental Health. Rochester.edu. Published 2019. https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentID=4552&ContentTypeID=1

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²University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences. 10 Ways Journaling Benefits Students. University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences. Published September 22, 2020. https://www.usa.edu/blog/ways-journaling-benefits-students/