How to reduce stress daily: Keep a Journal

Many people don't write in a journal, however, once you read this article, I believe you will want to try it. Keeping a journal reduces stress and promotes good mental health.
Nancy Mair wrote: "I will write myself into well-being.".
That is exactly what a journal should be for - making yourself feel better.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Pen or pencil
• Notebook or legal pad

1. 
    
   Nothing fancy...just pen & paper.

   It is best to use a plain spiral notebook or even a legal pad rather than a fancy bound journal, as it seems that the prettier the outside, the more intimidated you will feel about writing on its' inside. You may feel that everything you write should be profound and perfect, versus using it as an outlet for stress.
   A journal is not meant to be a recording of events, but rather an elimination of the mental "chatter" that takes up a large portion of our subconscious minds, blocking the creative energy we need to access.
   Simply grab a pen or pencil and allow the stream of consciousness built up in your brain to flow onto the paper. Do not attempt to filter what you write, just write whatever comes into your head (even if you can't read it later because sometimes your hand has a hard time keeping pace with your head).

2. 
    
   No more headaches!

   Remember, it is not so much what you write, as the ritual of writing that frees up the mind.
   If you do this, I promise that you will be surprised at how much more calm you feel, perhaps even eliminating that dull headache that nags at the back of your head throughout the day.
   
   You can choose to keep what you write or throw it away. Using this "stream of consciousness writing" tends to help me, especially when I am angry or upset. I grab a pen and paper and let those feelings flow through my hand and thereby out of my heart, leaving behind the truly important things requiring my attention.

3. 
    
   Capture the moments that captured you!

   Journal keeping is private, something done to soothe the soul, not to mark time.
   It is something uniquely yours, an outlet that will always be there to hold your hopes, your secrets and the pieces of your innermost self.
   
   Realistically, it is not always the major events that mark our lives, so much as the minor moments that tend to resonate in our memory. We live so many of these moments that is impossible to hold them all inside.
   That's what journals should be used for - the overflow of the mind, the heart and the soul.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember: just grab a pen and paper and let your thoughts flow where they may. That's the joy - no rhyme nor reason, no spellcheck...just YOU!
• Don't obsess about it -it's there when you need it. The point is to NOT feel OBLIGATED to "record" anything -it's just a tool to use as a mental outlet.

[edieness]

on 6/15/2009 Gr8 article on How to reduce stress daily: Keep a Journal.5* and subscribe

[ljbinkop]

on 6/5/2009 A journal is a great idea on so many levels! Thanks for the article!

[writedesign]

on 5/25/2009 Great stress reducing info. 5*

[plasticostrich]

on 5/19/2009 So true. A journal is a great way to relieve stress.

[bmi57]

on 5/18/2009 I have several very nice Journals and they are pretty much empty, maybe it's time to buy a spiral notebook. Thank you, I am going to give your idea a try. Great article.*****