I journaled for 30 days and here’s what it did to me

I was on my flight back to San Francisco after an exhausting trip to San Diego. It wasn’t the itinerary itself that tired me; rather, it was the state of my mental health. I had been struggling with low self-esteem, feelings of unworthiness at work, and feeling overwhelmed by all the things I wanted to accomplish. These issues initially manifested as a decrease in my workplace productivity and led to disagreements with my partner. The thoughts were piling up, one after another, causing a significant amount of stress and anxiety. It was at that moment that I decided to open my phone and start a new note.

First, I began with a bullet-point list of everything that was bothering me. Then, I expanded on those bullet points, and before I knew it, I was writing pages about how I felt unworthy and how I simply wasn’t enough. Memories from my past crept into the journal, ones that I knew were still a source of pain.

It became clear that I had issues. However, before I could find a way to address them, I needed to gain a better understanding of them. That’s where journaling greatly helped me.

I journaled every day, and sometimes multiple times a day. On some days, it was just five sentences about my day or an account of events that had happened. On others, I poured my emotions into it. I first noticed the positive effects of journaling two weeks into the practice. It was during a stressful meeting at work when a conflict arose between me and a senior product manager. I didn’t know how to handle the conflict, so out of habit, I called my best friends. Unfortunately, no one was available to offer advice or empathy in that situation. Consequently, I rushed into a coffee shop and opened my journal to express my emotions. This leads me to my first benefit of journaling, which is:

Journaling provided me more clarity and space for problem solving

Using words to describe a problem brings clarity and light into the picture. And when this is done, we are opening up space for problem-solving (not all our problems need solving and in that case, journaling is just a means of processing them through writing and understanding). In my case, since my conflict was something that could be resolved, I was able to compartmentalize my overwhelming emotions, isolate the problem in hand and solve for it by crafting a resolution. I was able to reiterate my goals and values to my product manager via an e-mail, after an hour of journaling and drafting the responses.

I felt like myself again

Possibly one of the reasons I was so burnt out was because I was completely out of touch with my body and emotions. When journaling, I make it a point to consistently write about how my body is feeling. Most of the times, it is two lines of how my lips are dehydrated or shoulders are tense. This helped me schedule a massage the following week and pay more attention to rehydrating, which also helped feel better. Within days, I felt like I’d perked up physically. On an emotional level, I became more attuned to my emotions and was able to respond appropriately to situations. I was able to take time and space for things I needed to deal with my emotions accordingly.

Coping with stress

There were days when I was so stressed at work that I couldn’t find the time to write out my feelings in my journal. Instead, I would create a list of all the overwhelming issues I faced and meticulously organize them into tasks, subtasks, and timelines. This form of brainstorming and problem-solving within my journal became a powerful tool to alleviate the stress I was experiencing.

Journaling works like magic when it comes to stress management. While writing about the things that bother me doesn't necessarily solve them, it often feels like it does. Putting words to my worrisome thoughts helps me realize how insignificant they can be in the larger scheme of things and how they relate to my life's direction, keeping me aligned with my goals and values.

And as I continue my journaling journey, I am sure there are more advantages to uncover!

So if all of the above sounds like something you want to get started on, I recommend the below tips!

Define your relationship with your journal

Journaling is a highly personalized experience. Some individuals prefer to use their journal as a simple record of their daily events, while others let their creativity flow through doodling. Recognizing the role journaling plays in your life is crucial, as it creates a dedicated space for self-expression, emotions, and thoughts. In my own experience, I discovered that I had lost touch with my youthful energy and inner artist, and I wanted to grant myself the freedom to embrace a more childlike spirit within the pages of my journal

Romanticize it (and embellish it)

Pick a romantic spot in the city, perhaps your favorite coffee shop. Or maybe a dedicated space within the comforts of your own home. Light a candle if you feel like it. Bring out some scrapbooking items, colorful pens, sticky notes etc. Play some calming music and journal away!

Make it accessible

Make sure you can always see your journal and access it. Carry your journal with you if you can. Keeping it in a place where you can see it can be a gentle reminder to have a check-in with yourself!

Happy journaling!