Which journaling techniques are right for you?

Do you ever feel like you have so many thoughts running through your head, you simply can’t keep track? Or maybe you start to feel a certain emotion but aren’t sure why? Perhaps you struggle to see the positives? If you’re nodding along, you could benefit from journaling.

Journaling can work in so many different ways, including raising our self-awareness. Being more aware of our thoughts and feelings helps us understand ourselves better and therefore gives us a chance to take care of ourselves better.

Here we look at some of our favourite ways to put pen to paper…

Morning pages

Many artists and writers swear by ‘morning pages’. This is when you write a certain amount of pages, every morning. There are no rules about what you can and can’t write – just the act of writing is thought to help stimulate your creativity and get you engaged with your mind.

This is especially powerful when combined with a morning tea/coffee and before you start scrolling on your phone or checking emails!

Gratitude journal

If you struggle to feel positive, which – let’s face it – we all experience sometimes, a gratitude journal could be a good idea. This involves you sitting down, once a day to consider what you’re grateful for. It could be one thing that’s happened that day or something you always have but sometimes forget to acknowledge.

Try keeping this journal by your bed and filling it in first thing in the morning to get you in a positive mindset for the day ahead.

Planners

There are so many planners available now that not only help you plan your week but encourage goal setting, gratitude and self-reflection, all in one. We love the Best Self journal and the Happiness Planner for this.

Creative questioning

If you need to untangle or work out an issue in your mind, it can help to write it out. Ask yourself as many questions as you can about the situation and try to think outside the box. For example, if you’re worried about a presentation at work, you could ask yourself:

• What could go wrong?
• How can I prepare for this?
• What would it look like if it went well?
• Why am I so concerned about this?

Freestyle journal

Sometimes writing for the sake of writing is helpful. If you’re feeling a certain way but can’t put your finger on why, freestyle writing can be helpful. Simply write out your thoughts as they come to you. You should find, by writing it out, things become clearer.

Of course, these are just examples of the different journaling techniques out there. The beauty of journaling is that there are no hard and fast rules. Find a way that works for you and have fun with it. Self-exploration can be incredibly beneficial for both your mental and physical well-being, helping you spot patterns and catch thoughts.

Complementary therapies like yoga, Reiki and crystal healing can all support your journey to self-awareness. Read our fact-sheets to find out more and book a session today.