Power Behind The Pen: The Lifelong Benefits Journaling Can Bring To Your Life

And why it is never too late to start.

As a twenty-year-old full time college student, I get asked all the time how I keep up with my journals while also maintaining such a heavy course load. My answer is simple and is always the same–journaling is not something you put on the ‘to do’ list but is something you put on the ‘you’ list. The moment you allow journaling to become a part of you instead of a chore is the moment everything will fall into place. While I could probably write a book about this, I have synthesized the three biggest ways journaling can improve your quality of life.

1. Periodically writing in a journal allows you to declutter your mental space. You know those days when you wake up and every five minutes a new thought pops into your head? Remember to text back dad, add peanut butter to the shopping list, send that assignment in for work, and so on and so forth. I have come to find these seemingly small tasks stacking up on top of each other may not just be the product of all your tasks coincidentally falling on to the same day. When my mind gets cluttered like this, it is an immediate indicator that some time to sit down and journal is in order. Finding free time to regularly write about anything from your emotions to your day to day experiences brings you an extra step closer to clarity and peace in your mind. Maybe you were stressed about something that was right under your nose and all you needed was a little prompting. In other words, sometimes all it takes is a pen and paper to quiet those stressful little voices inside your head.
2. Journaling can serve as a “trial run” for your emotional needs. If I had a dime for every time my mom told me to write a letter to someone about the way they upset me (and then tear it up of course) I could be on a yacht to Cuba by now. As futile as this strategy may have felt when I was young, I have to admit how much validity it actually holds. Writing a letter about how mad you are that Sophie copied your haircut or that Jamar stole your girlfriend is not a bad first step. Expressing your frustration on paper can be cathartic and relieve the hostile parts of your anger. When you write things in a journal a necessary emotional release is soon to follow. When it comes time to confront that individual or situation, you will be ready to address it in a more balanced way.
3. In a world full of technology and distractions, sometimes a conversation with yourself is exactly what we need. Wake up, work, sleep, repeat–sound familiar to anyone? In a world where what we prioritize is progress, time to ourselves seems almost impossible to come by and when we do, how do we use it? We watch Netflix, the news, scroll through social media or maybe even read a book. Notice, however, that none of this time is actually free, unregulated, mental time. The only two times of the day I could see us having this “free mind time” are in the shower (but I like to sing at the top of my lungs so that’s out) or when our head hits the pillow before falling asleep. All of the sudden, everything we either did not have time to think about or process during the day catches up to us at the worst possible moment. You are so tired, and yet, you still cannot turn off your mind. Allocating even a small amount of time during the week to journal can be your one-way ticket to a better night sleep.

Many people I meet are inclined to say they “missed the boat” for journaling success or that it does not work for them. I personally began my journey with journaling at the age of eight years old and I am telling you–if an eight-year-old can do this, you can do this. Beginning a journal is similar to any other new hobby we hope to start. It will take practice, it will take determination, and it will take making mistakes. If college has taught me anything, it is how humans are creatures of habit. Making a habit is hard but breaking one is even harder. Today, my journal is something I depend on (sometimes more than I would care to admit to be quite honest) and building that relationship was tough. BUT, if someone were to tell me I could not journal anymore, I would be an absolute wreck. Try taking away caffeine from an avid coffee drinker–you just can’t do it.

I am here to tell you anyone can find prosperity in journaling if you set your mind to it. You do not need to write every day or even every week. If you miss a week, this does not have to mean you “failed” or this experience is not for you. The only marker of success in this process is whether or not it improves your mental health. If you journaled once last year but it helped to bring peace and clarity to your life, then it was worth it. Don’t you think? Every person is different and will have different markers of their own success. I like to keep a physical journal once a week but others I know like to journal on their laptop from time to time. I collect stickers and photos to liven up my pages but others are more drawn to the pure artistry behind their words.

Oprah once said, “keeping a journal will absolutely change your life in ways you’ve never imagined.” So, if my words are not enough for you, maybe Oprah’s will be. When life gets hard, you will know it and feel it. These are the moments your journal could be the non judgemental and forgiving ear you were always looking for but could never find.