If you know me, you know that I swear by journaling. It has become part of my daily practice. It has been a key tool in my professional development as a psychologist as well as keeping my mental health in check. Whether you are an entrepreneur, high performer or simply striving for personal growth, journaling is the secret weapon that can propel you towards your goals.
Benefits of Keeping A Journal:
1) Journaling helps you gain clarity and focus
Picture this – a cluttered mind, brimming with ideas, dreams and aspirations. Journaling serves as the compass that guides you towards clarity. Taking the time to put pen to paper, you externalise your thoughts allowing them to take shape and form. It enables you to gain a better understanding of your goals and aspirations. Decluttering the mind means you can prioritise tasks and stay focused on what truly matters.
2) It encourages self-reflection
The journey to success is not linear. It’s a rollercoaster of emotions. Full of highs and lows. The act of journaling provides an opportunity for processing thoughts and emotions. It helps you to self-reflect and gain perspective. There is something about writing down what is going through your mind on a blank page that helps you to see things from a different angle. Not only that, you can track your progress, identify patterns and evaluate your personal growth. Looking back on my previous entries has helped me to see how far I have come and allows me to celebrate my successes – something we all need to do more of.
3) Goal setting and accountability
Journaling is an effective tool for setting and tracking goals. By clearly defining your objectives and outlining actionable steps, you can hold yourself accountable and measure your progress over time. Regularly reviewing your journal entries can also serve as a source of motivation, reminding you of your aspirations and keeping you on track towards success.
4) Journaling for mental health and well-being
Research has shown that journaling can have huge benefits for your mental health. Being a high performer, entrepreneur or business owner comes with a lot of stress and pressure. Journaling provides a safe outlet to release pent-up emotions. You can get anxieties and worries off your chest without having to deal with the fear of being judged. Additionally, the act of physically putting pen to paper can be a grounding experience. Journaling forces you to be present in the moment and can help you to slow down. It can be a great way to wind down and de-stress from the day.
My biggest tips for journaling:
Be consistent. Set aside 15 minutes to incorporate journaling into your daily practice. Dedicate that time to connecting with your thoughts and emotions. And embrace imperfection. Let your thoughts flow freely without the fear of being judged.
Ready to get started? Get some free journaling prompts here.
Hi I'm Dr Hannah Bryan
I am a Chartered Clinical Psychologist and a Europe Accredited EMDR Facilitator and Consultant.
I have over 20 years experience in both the NHS and private practice.
I am only human and like you have had my hard times and I have got many blocking beliefs that at times hold me back from me realising my potential and being my best.
I have used EMDR and coaching to help me work things through and be in a position now where I have a thriving and inspiring psychology practice. It’s always a journey and I’m always working on my blocks, my mental health and my well being.
As well as coaching, I also provide psychological therapy and support other therapists training in EMDR, I am a Facilitator on training courses and offer specific supervision packages and training to support this.
Recent Comments