Journaling

[Orangesandlemons82]

I have read people who say journaling really helps them on a daily basis. What do you actually write and use it for?! I don't want to do a 'dear diary' but would be interested in finding if this helps with the feeling of overwhelm with work and home life and getting some clarity in my life.

Anyone?

Aw I came to this thread hoping for answers! 😅 I've been advised to journal but have nooooo idea where to start. My mind draws a blank anytime I try.

@SadAsHell 😂 I have bought a new notebook with me on holiday hoping for inspiration. I haven't written anything in it. I'm just not sure what to write!

Write about something that has made you happy each day? Also Google journal writing prompts for questions that might appeal!!

You can google for journaling ideas. Some give you questions you can use to get going.

I guess "journal questions/ideas" would give you what you're looking for.

I just write about what I've done and how I've felt that day. Some days it's a line or three and other days it's a page or three. If there's something on my mind, I write it down and equally if there's something I'm happy with or excited about, I write it down. Sometimes I draw pictures or even stick in a photograph from that day if I've been somewhere and then write about that.

I've kept one since I was 8 years old. It's brilliant to read back over. First crushes. Fall out with friends. Embarrassing teenage angst
I've also learnt how hard I can be on my self. Whenever I've gone through something terrible I can read the self blame and "plough through' mindset - I can see it's something I need to work on

This is actually very helpful. I think I was putting too much pressure on writing a page. Never even considered it could be a small amount.

I find when I ask myself what I'm thankful for it's always the same bigger picture type things like family and friends. I find it difficult to answer specific to the day.

I do something where I find something that made me happy each day and write it down. I'm aiming for at least 100 days (about day seventy two now) . It doesn't need to be big, can be as simple as a TV show, so it's low pressure but feels I've accomplished something

I kept a sort of diary at the end of my marriage. I mainly used it as a way of recording our arguments. He said, she said etc.

It was mostly because at a later stage his version would be completely different to mine. By writing it down when it was fresh in my mind, helped me know that I was not going insane with intractable memory problems.

Other times when I got upset over someone (him mostly) or something, it was a way to unpick my feelings and work out was was the underlying emotion or worry.

I also tried the three things I’m grateful for, but they were often the same.

I suppose a diary is useful for recording events, but a journal is for recording your feelings, happiness and upsets day to day.

There's no right or wrong way to journal.

Personally speaking, I do it for my mental health. It's just a place for outpouring random thoughts and feelings really. I just write whatever comes into my mind, a bit stream-of-consciousness I suppose.

Sometimes it's complete bollocks, sometimes I surprise myself with an insight!

The hardest part is starting. The tyranny of the blank page. So just write something, even if it's 'hello' or 'bibble'.

I use a gratitude journal app on my phone, it has prompts if you get stuck. I write with thanks about anything and everything that’s on my mind, it may sound cheesy but it helps me flip the script and welcome challenging situations instead of feeling overwhelmed and defeated by them.

I also have a notebook for morning pages where I write for fifteen minutes or three pages, sometimes going over events from the day before, ideas for the day ahead or have a deep and meaningful conversation with myself. That’s a form of journaling?