“Self-care is how you get your power back” – Lalah Delia .I discovered journaling before I discovered self-care. I have always been a person to write my emotions down, even before I understood the effects it had on me. Journaling is a form of self-care that I believe deserves more credit than it is currently getting. As a mom, you are always thinking about something. Whether it is something that needs to be done or one that shouldn’t have been done; there is just almost always a mental list in your head. The truth is that thoughts can become overwhelming which is why it is important to find a way to process and organize your thoughts to combat overwhelm. Journaling can help you do just that. In this blog post, I share tips on how to journal for self-care.
What is journaling?
We have spoken about holistic self-care, so let’s look into journaling. Simply put, journaling is the practice of writing your thoughts, feelings, observations, life experiences, etc. down in a journal (you can even do it on a piece of paper really!). It is a very simple and cost-effective way to practice self-care as a mom and a great way to reconnect with yourself.
Journaling as a form of self-care
Maybe you have heard about journaling but you are still not sure how it can help you. As a mom, it is so easy to forget to look inward and this is partly because we are so busy taking care of everyone and everything. Our emotions, our mindset, and our mental health matters and journaling is a way to give all these attention (enjoying a quiet mind is an important part of self-care. Journaling has a lot of benefits that have caused it to be seen as a form of self-care. It was the habit of journaling daily that helped me in my journey to rediscover myself after being a mom. It has helped me develop insight, self-compassion as well as self-awareness. Moreover, journaling:
- Allows for the opportunity to release emotions and put feelings into words
- May help in making sense of situations that are complex
- Encourages reflection and emotional discharge.
- Allows recognizing your triggers
- Promotes self-awareness
- Allows for record-keeping and tracking of life experiences;
- Can foster Healing
- exploring inner guidance-accessing subconscious and unconscious minds; and, improved health.
How to get started
If you do not know how to journal for self-care, the requirements are truly simple. All you need is something to write on, something to write with, and the desire to get started. In my opinion, journaling is personal and this means there is no need to worry about whether you are doing it right. Asking yourself questions like “How am I feeling?” and “What was my highlight for today can assist in getting started. Other ways that you can use a journal as a mom include:
- Doing a brain dump
There is always something on our minds as moms. I have found that writing down everything that needs to be done (when I say everything, I mean even the ones that won’t be done by you and the ones that need to get done next year) helps to calm me down and to quiet my mind. I believe that it takes away the pressure to remember everything.
- Writing Gratitude Journal entries
Practicing gratitude is a mindset shift from focusing on what you do not have to focus on what you have been blessed with. It is an important part of journaling for self-care because it helps turn your attention to the things that you already have, consequently you worry less. You can get started by simply writing down 5/10 that you are thankful for. Pinterest has a variety of gratitude journaling prompts.
- Indulge in your dreams and passion
I am a firm believer that Moms should pursue their dreams in and beyond motherhood. Let’s be honest though when you have big dreams you do not want to share them immediately. Writing then is a way to keep them alive while you work or plan to work on them.
Journaling is a powerful yet simple way to practice self-care as a mom. These are my tips on how to journal for self-care. What are your thoughts on Journaling and on using it as a form of self-care?
Photography: Unsplash
