My Brain's Not Broken

Earlier this week, I shared a post about the importance of feeling your feelings. Though there are a lot of ways you can do this, one of my favorite ways is through journaling. Journaling slows me down, and gives me time to collect my thoughts and figure out what I’m really feeling. It has a way of cutting through the noise and find what really needs to be shared. Even though I don’t journal as often as I’d like, I’d still recommend it for anyone who hasn’t tried it before. Here are five benefits of journaling!

Journaling slows down my mind

As someone who works on a computer for a living, I’m a fast typer. That means that even when I try to be contentious about my words, my brain is still moving a hundred miles an hour. The act of writing with a pen and paper means my brain needs to slow down. I can’t write as quickly as my thoughts flow, and journaling is a good reminder of that.

Journaling allows for reflection

Journaling lets me stop and think about how I’m feeling in a unique way. There’s a sense of permanence to writing things down, especially with pen and paper. I want my words to be intentional, and the best way to do that is through reflection.

Writing helps me practice focusing

Let’s be honest – one of the hardest things to do in today’s world is focus. Multi-tasking feels like the norm and even when when we try to focus, our attention is being pulled in a million different directions. Journaling is a rare opportunity to practice focus; it’s me, my thoughts, and my journal. As distracted as I am, there is nothing more to journaling than these components, which means I have to focus. It’s helped me find focus and clarity when it feels like nothing else can.

I get my eyes off a screen

This benefit might seem like the previous one but trust me, it’s different! I’ll also journal on my computer, but there are big benefits to getting away from a screen. I’ve enjoyed finding creative ways to express myself outside a digital space. Considering most of my hobbies are extremely online (e.g., this blog), this is a rare opportunity to unplug. Which leads me to my final point…

It’s all about me.

I’ll be honest – one my least favorite part about journaling is that there’s nowhere for me to hide. However, there’s also power to this that we don’t often explore. How often are we in situations where we’re the main character? How many times do we get to say exactly how we’re feeling, without mincing words or stifling our thoughts? I don’t love being alone with my thoughts, but journaling is a baby step toward getting more comfortable with that feeling. At the end of the day, journaling is another chance to get to know myself better – a chance I’m always happy I took when I’m done.