What I Noticed When I Stopped Journaling

Today at a Glance:

• Learn how neglecting simple self-care practices can affect your mental well-being and sense of clarity.
• Understand why it’s vital to regularly engage in activities that clear your mind, like journaling or other personal practices.
• Get actionable insights on how prioritizing your mind leads to better overall health and productivity.

Last year, I wrote about the seven things I learned from a practice that brought clarity, focus, and calm to my days.

Journalling.

But this year, I experienced the flip side: the lessons from?not?journaling.

For the past few months, my journaling habit has faltered.

I’d write one day, skip the next, write again, then skip a few more until eventually, I stopped for over a month.

Why?

Well, I would like to say I was "busy." But if you asked me what I was busy with, I couldn’t give you a clear answer.

Deep down, I knew I hadn’t been focused on what truly mattered.

However, I got to journal this week and was reminded of the lessons I wrote about last year (which you could check out after this article ).

This moment also made me remember something else

“Taking care of yourself”

Now, I know that this phrase may sound cheesy, maybe even clichéd, given how often we hear it.

But this isn’t the usual self-care advice about resting, treating yourself, or celebrating small wins (though those are great, too).

Rather this is about taking care of yourself by consistently doing the things that bring you clarity and peace, no matter how busy life gets.

One of my goals this year was to publish an article every Sunday, and so far, I’ve stuck to it.

To stay on track, I made sure to read extensively, watch videos, and listen to podcasts that sparked new ideas. Every week, I showed up, even when it wasn’t easy.

However, while I was writing to help others, I realized that I had stopped writing to help myself, which is what journaling meant to me.

Journaling was a way to clear my mind, stay focused, and process my thoughts without needing an audience. It was my therapy. But I stopped.

I’d come home from work, eat, catch up with family, read a little, and collapse into bed, too tired to journal about my day, reflect on what happened, or plan for tomorrow.

The next day would be busy again, but I’d strangely feel unfulfilled.

Like as if anything I’d done that didn’t matter and something was missing, a clarity that journaling once provided.

So, when I picked up my journal again this week, imagine the wave of peace and relief that passed through me.

Like cold water being poured on you after an immense day in the sun.

Like reconnecting with a best friend after years apart.

It reminded me of the importance of taking care of my mind, which was also taking care of myself.

You see when we hear take care of yourself, we think about the physical aspects: getting enough sleep, eating well, or indulging in a favorite hobby.

We often remember to care for our bodies, but we can’t forget our minds, because the mind is just as crucial, if not more so.

It thrives on expression, reflection, and connection with itself.

When we neglect our mental well-being, we can end up feeling adrift and disconnected from our purpose

So, here’s my question:

What are you doing to take care of your mind?

What practices help you find calm amidst the chaos?

When was the last time you did something that cleared your mind?

For me, it is journaling. Maybe for you, it’s something different.

Maybe it’s a daily walk. Maybe is talking to yourself. Maybe it’s praying or reading

Whatever it is, make sure you’re doing it regularly to keep both your mind and body healthy.

This article isn’t just a reflection on journaling.

It’s a call to prioritize your mind as much as you do your body. Because if the mind falters, the body will eventually follow.

Take care of your mind, and the rest will follow.

As Les Brown once said, “If the enemy within is taken care of, the enemy outside can do little to no harm.”

Take care of your mind, and you’re truly taking care of yourself.

Remember, you’ve got this.

Till next time,

Salud.

In Case You Missed It:

Last week, I wrote about?Choose One, Open Many , a look into How to make choices without regret, seeing opportunity in every decision, and overcoming "what-if" worries with real steps.