Why You Should Journal to Relieve Stress

Stress relief comes in many forms. Some people turn to physical activity for stress relief. 
Others want something less strenuous. Journaling is a great way to relieve stress. By 
putting your thoughts and feelings on paper, you provide yourself with a tremendous 
opportunity for self-reflection. Thinking about your problems or concerns is different 
from giving those issues physical space. When you see how you're thinking, you may 
look at the problem differently. Here are a few reasons why you should journal to relieve 
stress:

Journaling is an Escape

With a journal, you can escape from judgment. Your journal is your most trusted 
confidant. You can tell your journal anything. And many who journal recommend 
complete honesty with your journal. Don't put a filter on your feelings. Let them out. 
Your mind is much less scary on a piece of paper than it is when thoughts are trapped 
in your head. Journaling can provide you with a creative outlet. Many people find it 
soothing.

Make it Easier to Evaluate Your Thoughts

Your brain can get caught in a loop. You can replay the same possible scenario over 
and over, and your brain will deliver the same fears and anxieties. When you put your 
thoughts on paper, it gives you an opportunity to work the problem in a different way. 
You may find that something your brain told you to fear is actually a positive. Or you can 
compare it to other things in your journal that are positive.

Evidence of Survival

When times get tough, you can look back on your previous journal entries and see that 
you survived. You can reflect on the feelings you had during a challenging time. You 
may find that the way you handled something in the past is not how you'd like to handle 
things now. Your brain can only remember and hold so much information. A journal 
provides your brain with a refresher or resource to recall what your brain has hiding 
underneath. For example, if you get into an argument with a loved one, your brain may 
only remember the strongest emotion. Perhaps you were angry or hurt. But if you wrote 
about the incident in the journal, your current self can reflect on how your past self-
handled the issue. Then you can ask yourself if there was a better way to approach the 
problem. 

Journaling is a stress relieving exercise that is best when it is made a habit. Get in a 
routine of journaling each day. If you're a morning person, journal when you wake up. If 
you prefer the evening, journal then. Pick up your journal when you're feeling stressed 
or emotional. Share your feelings without any strings attached.

