As a child, I always kept a travel journal to document family vacations, but I had a hard time keeping a regular, everyday journal. It wasn’t until my freshman year of college that I successfully kept a full journal, writing in it every night. Now, four years later, I honestly do not know what I would do without my journal. As an introverted person, my journal is my place to express my thoughts without a fear of being judged.
Additionally, studies and medical centers such as the University of Rochester Medical Center show that journaling is a great way to maintain good mental health. It helps manage anxiety and relieve stress. Furthermore, a journal is an ideal place to vent and release any anger or negative emotions you may be feeling, instead of internalizing them. I highly recommend you give journaling a chance. If you do not know where to start, check out all the different types of journals below to find the best fit for you.
1. Traditional Journal
When people think of journals, they most commonly think of this type. A traditional journal is simply a notebook where you can record what is happening in your life. More importantly, a traditional journal is not just a place to write about what is going on in your life, but also how your life is making you feel.
2. Bullet Journal
The Bullet Journal method quickly become the newest trend in the journaling world. This journal can become anything you want to make it be: calendar, planner, lists, activity tracker and so much more. This method of journaling is best for people who want to have a planner or a to-do list but want to add their own creativity to it.
You can make a bullet journal as simple or as creative as you want to. If you need some inspiration to get started, simply search ‘bullet journal’ on Instagram and prepare to be amazed by how awesome these journals are.
3. Art Journal
Art journaling is a great outlet for people who prefer to express themselves through other art mediums besides words. Art journaling is such a broad category as it encompasses everything from magazine collages to painting.
There is so much creativity involved with these journals which means that there is no wrong way to have an art journal. Whether it’s painting, drawing or magazine cutouts, art journals are another fantastic way for people to express their feelings.
4. List Journal
The 52 List Project is great for everyone who loves to make lists. The book is organized by season but you can skip around if you wish. List titles include “List All the People Who Brighten Your Day,” “List Your Favorite Characters From Books, Movie, Etc,” and “List the Soundtrack of Your Life Right Now.”
It’s an easy way to record your life and it’s fun to flip back through the book once the year ends. Plus, each list has a “Take Action” comment at the end, suggesting ways to improve your life and happiness.
5. One a Day Journal
The Question A Day journal is unique because it poses the same question on the same day for five years. For example, on January 18th the question is “What was peaceful about today?” You answer this question on January 18th for the next five years, which is cool because it allows you to see how your answer changes over the years. It’s a quick method of journaling and the questions range from silly to deep.
Overall, I recommend everyone to give journaling a try. Journaling provides a ton of health benefits, but I think the one of the best parts about journaling is the ability to flip back through all your writing months or years later. It is only when you do this, that you realize how much you have changed as a person.