Dear Diary, It’s me, Dan.
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Journaling can have powerful effects and it doesn’t even need to be a daily habit…
Dear diary, it’s me. Dan. Today I ate eggs (again) and wrote a weekly newsletter to a community of people invested in the health of their brains. I thought I’d tell them about you today. So here I go.
The act of journaling has so many benefits it calls for a bulleted list.
Journaling can help:
Reduce depression, anxiety, and stress
Cope with emotions
Create focus
Develop insight
Reflect on behaviour or feelings
Though in general it’s good to practice repetition when it comes to building habits, journaling doesn’t necessarily need to be a daily habit where you write in a book that you hide under your pillow (or, um - place on your bedside table). You just need a method that allows you to reflect on past and future experiences.
Some ideas:
Practice gratitude. Gratitude can make you happier, improve relationships, counteract depression, and boost your health. I note 3 things from the day I’m grateful for every night before I go to sleep. Make this a daily habit with this gratitude app.
Enhance your “to do” list. Instead of just a list of things you need to do, write about a few ways you’d like to connect with people in your life. In my last company I got everyone to work on their "to be" lists which was a really helpful way to encourage people to stay true to themselves and reach their potential.
Prime yourself. Take 30 seconds every morning before leaving the bed to ask yourself: "Where will my joy come from today?". Note down a few ideas, regardless how small: making pancakes, going for a walk, petting a cat (guaranteed joy).
FOR THE NERDY: Get journaling [source: Psychology Today]