12 Reasons to Write in a Journal

12 Reasons to Write in a Journal

By

Jan Yager, Ph.D.

??????????????I began keeping a journal, what used to be called a diary, when I was ten years old. My diaries, or journals, are a record of my thoughts at one point in time. Having all those diaries definitely helped me in checking on certain experiences and memories as I completed my new memoir, Looking Backward, Going Forward: Reflections on a Writer's Life (Hannacroix Creek Books, 2023). In researching journal writing, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that research has discovered that there may actually be physical and mental health benefits to journaling.

???????????Here are 12 reasons to take the time to write in a journal:

1.????To reduce stress.

2.????As an outlet for experiences, thoughts, and feelings.

3.????As a place to work through a problem you are dealing with including everything from losing weight or financial challenges to getting along with a friend, classmate, family member, boss, or co-worker.

4.????As a record of your life and thoughts for posterity in case you never get around to writing that memoir. It could also be a place to record your interviews with others which is the goal of the journal, So, What’s Your Favorite Color? The journal developed because I realized, as I went to the hospital to visit my 80-year-old father, who was dying of an inoperable brain tumor, that I did not know his favorite color? (I did get to ask him and I found out, much to my surprise, that it was red!)

5.????As an opportunity to work on your writing skills. Writing improves by reading more and writing more.

6.????As a place to work through grief when dealing with the illness or passing of a family member, friend, or colleague.

7.????As a unique gift for a family member or friend.

8.????As an opportunity to explore your thoughts, values, goals, dreams, and concerns.

9.????James Pennebaker, Chair of the Department of Psychology at the University of Texas, recommended writing in a journal about “any concern that is having an unhealthy affect on your life.” (Source: Mental Health Weekly, October 2005, page 8.

10.?Educator Joanne e. Cooper, co-author with D. Stevens of Journal Keeping: How to Use Reflective Writing for Learning Teaching, Professional Insight and Positive Change (Stylus Publishing, 2009), writes, “Writing journals has been described as a way of reading your own mind.” (Source: Cooper, “Keeping a Journal,” Educational Perspectives, volume 46, page 41)

11.?As a place to organize information such as birthdays, the focus of the journal, Birthday Tracker and a Journal (Hannacroix Creek Books, 2011).

12.?As a fun activity!

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Whatever your age, and whatever your motivation, consider starting a diary or journal today. If you used to journal, but stopped, now is as good a time as any to start again.

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Jan Yager, Ph.D. is a sociologist/victimologist, coach, freelance writer, artist, and publisher in Stamford, Connecticut, whose 50-plus award winning books and journals, with one or more titles translated into 35 languages, include 365 Daily Affirmations for Happiness, Productive Relationships, When Friendship Hurts, Looking Backward, Going Forward: Reflections on a Writer’s Life, Work Less, Do More, Time to Lose Journal, Friendship Thoughts, Famous Quotes, and a Journal, So, What’s Your Favorite Color, Birthday Tracker & a Journal, and more. Follow Jan’s tweets at @drjanyager. For more information, go to https://www.drjanyager.com

?Copyright ? 2023, 2011.

All rights reserved.

For your personal reading enjoyment. May not be republished without written permission of the copyright holder, Jan Yager, Ph.D.