With the New Year, it’s a great time to consider our hopes, dreams, and goals. We swear that this year will be different from the last, yet all too quickly we get caught up in the drudgery of daily affairs and forget what we promised ourselves we would do. That’s one reason it’s important to keep a personal journal. Joan Didion, author and journalist was famous for keeping piles of diaries and journals. As a writer it was only natural for her, but for the rest of us, she urged other reasons to keep a personal written record.
“I think we are well advised to keep on nodding terms with the people we used to be, whether we find them attractive company or not. Otherwise they turn up unannounced and surprise us, come hammering on the mind’s door at 4 a.m. of a bad night and demand to know who deserted them, who betrayed them, who is going to make amends. We forget all too soon the things we thought we could never forget. We forget the loves and the betrayals alike, forget what we whispered and what we screamed, forget who we were…
It is a good idea, then, to keep in touch, and I suppose that keeping in touch is what notebooks are all about. And we are all on our own when it comes to keeping those lines open to ourselves: your notebook will never help me, nor mine you.”
For some people a journal might be about therapy with entries about illness, divorce, death, or personal strife, while for others a journal might take the form of innovative lists or artistic sketches. Some people might prefer to record their thoughts with audio or video.
Keeping a journal isn’t just handy on an emotional level, it's also beneficial on a physical one too. Elizabeth Broadbent of the University of Auckland in New Zealand led a psychology research study with 49 senior citizens, aged 64-97. She measured the physical benefits of journal writing with them. Half of the group was encouraged to write 20 minutes a day about traumatic events they had experienced while the other half wrote about their plans for the next day, rather than their feelings, opinions and beliefs. Three weeks and several skin biopsies later, she found 76% of the group that had written about trauma had fully healed from the biopsies while only 42% of the latter group had healed. This study certainly leans towards the “better out than in” philosophy where journal writing is a major player.
However if you’re not a natural writer, starting a journal can be tricky. Often it’s all about choosing the right medium to get the emotional or creative juices flowing. Are you more of an analog person or digital?
For old-school journal keepers, there are so many options out there from the classic moleskin to an endless variety of fun notebooks that come with lined pages, graphs, blank sheets and so on. When it comes to pens and pencils the sky is the limit whether you are the ball-point pen type or you prefer colored pencils.
For the more technologically minded, you can open a Word document and just start typing, or if you’d rather ensure that your entries are always accessible via wireless, give the free program, Evernote a try. If you’re all about sharing your thoughts and feelings, maybe blogging is more your speed, in which case you will want to consider blogspot, LiveJournal or WordPress. For those who really don’t enjoy writing no matter the medium, a video journal or video blog is a great alternative.
Journal writing is also about holding a routine. It doesn’t have to be every day, but schedule time to write and make it a non-negotiable task in your life. Try writing right before bed to help decompress and reflect on the day. Some prefer to write in the morning, while others just keep the journal in their pocket for stray ideas. Whatever you decide to do, make sure to at least try the medium and see how well it benefits you.
Featured Image:http://b-i.forbesimg.com
COMMENTS
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
-
Let’s Talk … About Your Relationship with You!
-
This Is Why Amsterdam In The Winter Is Simply Wonderful
-
Dear Dr. Monica Vermani Being Back In The Office Is Giving Me Anxiety
-
Indian Afternoon Tea At Bobby's In Leicester UK? Yes Please!
-
Dear Dr. Monica Vermani: Help! My Ex Tells His Friends His Cheating Is My Fault
-
Travel The World With Tamarind Modern Indian Bistro's Global Cuisine
-
Ask Dr. Monica Vermani: Winter Depresses Me, What Do I Do?
-
Ask Dr. Monica Vermani: How Do I Tell My Parents I Don't Want To Go To Business School?
-
Fabulous Holiday Gifts For Kids
-
Why 'Heroin Chic' Is A Dangerous Trend For South Asians
-
Highlights From The South Asian Literature And Arts Festival (SALA)
-
Ask Dr Monica Vermani: Her 5 Break Up Rules You Should Know
-
Roti Chai Is The Perfect Eatery To Hit Up While Christmas Shopping
-
I Loved Visiting This Quaint Town Of Bath
-
Indian Alley Brings Delhi's Iconic Roadside Eats To Camden Market
-
This Is Why Mauritius Is A Traveller's Dream
-
"Making Happy" By Sheetal Seth Is The Book Kids Need When Their Parent Is Sick
-
International Day Of The Girl: How Women Of The Sundarbans Are Saving Their Girls
-
The Murder Of Mahsa Amini: Will The Global Outcry Make A Difference?
-
South Asian Literature And Art Festival Is Bringing Together The Biggest Names In SA Lit And Here's Why You Need To Go
-
Canada's Most Powerful Women Were Celebrated At The Women Empowerment Awards 2022
-
It's All About The Home Cooked Veg Goodness At London's Ananda Bhavan
-
What Exactly Is A NFT And Why We Need To Stop Ignoring It
-
TIFF 2022: Checking Out The Fabulous Bask-It-Style Gift Lounge
-
Gopal’s Corner Blend Malaysian And Tamil Cuisine Creating An Unforgettable Bite
-
We Celebrate National Wildlife Day With Our 5 Fave Sanctuaries In India
-
Canary Wharf Heats Up Your Palate With Chai Ki
-
Ready To Find Your Match? You'll Need These 4 Desi Dating Apps In Your Life
-
Where Does Hinduism, Islam & Sikhism Stand In The Abortion Issue?
-
Never Forget: 12 Movies & Books To Help You Continue The Partition Conversation
-
From North To South London's Award-Winning Bayleaf Restaurant Elevates Indian Cuisine At Whetstone
-
Here's Why I Fell In Love With The Sea Views Of Southampton and Portsmouth
-
Shree Krishna Vada Pav In London Celebrates India's Iconic Veggie Dishes
-
The Pope’s Apology: A Closer Look At His “Pilgrimage Of Penance"
-
Want To Go To Marrakech? This Is What I Did
-
Virtual Pageants Celebrate Inclusivity & That's Why I Love Them
-
Here's How I Spent 48 Fabulous Hours In Lille, France
-
The Dishes At Central London's Mumbai Square Will Make You Want Seconds
-
4 Hot July 2022 Tech Gadgets That You Need Now!
-
10 South Asian LGBTQIA+ Leaders Who Are Using Their Platform To Break Barriers
-
Ganapati Peckham Brings South Indian Flavours To South London
-
Sanaa: This African/Indian Restaurant Is Disney's Best Kept Secret In Orlando
-
Travel: How I Got The Most Of My Weekend In Marbella, Spain
-
Pride Month 2022: This Glossary Will Teach You All The LGBTQIA+ Terms You Need To Know In 2022
-
Platinum Jubilee: How Relevant Is The Queen To South Asians?
-
Pride Month 2022: A List Of 20 Global Resources To Help You Support Your Journey With Your LGBTQIA+ Loved Ones
-
How To Let Go Of The Past And Create The Life You Want
-
Dhamaka In New York City Lets You Explore Cuisine "From The Forgotten Side Of India"
-
Madras Chettinaad Brings The Flavours Of Tamil Nadu To Atlanta, Georgia
-
3 Must Know Signs That A Problem Exists & How To Conquer Them
-
The 4 Hottest May 2022 Tech Gadgets You Need Now
-
South Asian Heritage Month 2022: From LGBTQIA+ Rights To Senior Dating, How Our Culture Is Becoming More Inclusive
