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Write in journal or meditate

14 replies

DivertedTraffic · 12/07/2024 10:05

I have a "spare" ten minutes before I start work for the day. Which of these would be the most beneficial way to spend it (for my mental health) - writing in a journal for 10 minutes or meditating for 10 minutes?

OP posts:
comedycentral · 12/07/2024 10:07

Do you enjoy either task? Another option could be a mindful walk, a wild swim, getting in a cold tub.
You are more likely to stick to it if you enjoy it.

LK2610 · 12/07/2024 10:08

You could do both? I heard on a podcast that even 3 mins of mediation every day is enough.

thedesigner · 12/07/2024 10:10

neither
go for a walk
get back and have a coffee in the garden

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AnotherNewTrainer · 12/07/2024 10:13

I like to journal with what went well, what didn't, what am I grateful for. Also some tickbox each day did I exercise, walk etc. Takes five mins, then you can meditate for 5.

Or look for walking mindfulness, and do that during a daily walk if you already do that.

dudsville · 12/07/2024 10:16

This is entirely an individual decision. You have to identify which had the best impact on you, also it might be both, alternating days, or doing something else entirely. Run some experiments!

haveatye · 12/07/2024 10:19

Meditating for ten minutes is quite a lot.

Yoga when it's rainy, a nice walk when it's not? And allow two minutes to scribble in a book after?

InWithPeaceOutWithStress · 12/07/2024 10:22

10 minutes meditation a day will improve focus and ability to stay present through the day.

10 minutes journaling could help to set your intention for the day / understand and release repress emotions / resolve anxious thoughts / instil a gratitude practice - depending on how you approach it.

depends what you would benefit from most each morning.

Geilenk · 12/07/2024 11:05

Both. Listen to a five minute guided meditation, or five minutes calm music, then put pen to paper and write for five minutes about whatever's on your mind.

Funderthighs · 12/07/2024 12:22

I love the meditations on Headspace. The daily one tends to be about 10 minutes and makes me feel very relaxed.

Jellycatspyjamas · 12/07/2024 12:25

It depends how your mind works, I find meditation and mindfulness doesn’t help me in the slightest but journaling is really good for me. You might find the opposite. I’d do one for two weeks and then try the other and see what you feel.

Kittea · 12/07/2024 12:48

I journal. It helps me process so much and discover things I didn’t even realise I was thinking/doing. Even a small paragraph in the morning helps me so muc.

Meditation gives me panic attacks Hmm

DivertedTraffic · 14/07/2024 08:15

I've been trying to meditate for 10 minutes each morning for about a month now. I have a "monkey mind" that leaps about all over the place so find it very difficult; I'd like to go into a state of relaxation but never do. I've tried some meditations off Youtube but they just don't cut it for me - anything with running water or mantras about how I am at one with the universe puts me off.. I had Compassion Focused Therapy a couple of years ago, it always started with meditation and I always found it very calming, it was very much "feel your feet on the floor, are they pressing lightly or firmly" etc moving through each part of the body in turn. But I've not been able to find anything like it online. Im going to look at Head Space to see if there's anything there that I like.

I journal sporadically, but would like to do it more regularly. If you journal how do you start - do you just start writing the first thing that's in your head or do you have a question that you ask yourself and then explore the answer?

OP posts:
Funderthighs · 14/07/2024 08:58

I like the Headspace meditations because they’re undemanding & don’t tell you that you should be feeling a certain way. I also have a leaping mind but find that their 10 minute guided meditations give you gentle nudges/reminders to get you back on track. Meditation isn’t easy and I don’t think it’s for everyone so if you don’t get on with it then don’t give yourself a hard time. I recently took part in a sound bath and absolutely loved it. It did nothing for my sister in law who did it with me.

AnotherNewTrainer · 15/07/2024 12:52

Journalling is whatever suits you. Sometimes I write a random update of my day, or what thoughts are stuck in my head. At the moment I'm using three questions, what went well, what didn't, what am I grateful for. I try and write three things for each one.

I also find it useful to have a weekly or monthly page where I check off what I've achieved that day from the list of things I'd like to do. Basically a habit tracker. There are lots of styles if you Google j"ournal habit tracker"

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