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5 Helpful Hints To Overcome the Roadblocks to Journaling



Person in a yellow jacket sitting with their journal and a pen writing.

Journaling can be described as recording one’s thoughts, feelings, and memories, for the purpose of reflection, seeking clarity, and sometimes for the mere pleasure of looking back on life to see growth, obstacles overcome, or the joy of a particular moment in time.  Journaling is considered a mindful-based practice or intervention being ever present in the moment.  According to Janesick (2015), a journal is akin to holding a mirror to the self, a true reflection of what is and who one is, providing a gateway to spiritual and personal growth (Crawford et al., 2021).  Spiritual and personal growth stem from the dialog captured in the journal that allows insights into the interpretations of daily events revealing patterns of thinking, judgments, and feelings (Crawford et al., 2021).  


For one seeking personal growth, a journal may be vital in expanding horizons and developing a closer relationship with the self.  However, starting this practice may seem cumbersome, overwhelming, or frightening.  Determining and evaluating roadblocks to this practice is the first step to overcome the challenges to beginning journaling daily.  Below, we have outlined 5 roadblocks with easy solutions to start you on the way to this daily mindful ritual.




5 Roadblocks to Journaling

5 Ways to Overcome the Journaling Roadblock

  1. I don’t have the time to journal

Create a schedule - Be consistent with your time of day and even if you can only do 5 minutes, it is a start

2. I am embarrassed to write my true feelings-what would someone think of me if they found my journal and read it

To ensure privacy you can use a digital journal or buy a journal with a lock and keep it in a secure place only you access

3. Shame or Guilt - Self judgment about your thoughts

You are the only person reading it, if you do share it, it is best to share with a healthcare professional


4. Belief the writing must be grammatically correct or perfect

You are not writing a best-selling book - this is for you and your growth and self care so don’t worry about it having to be perfect


5. I hate writing

Use bullet points, or one word to describe a feeling or moment.  Another way is to use pictures to depict what you want to say




A red journal with the words Be brave, Be bold, Be beautiful and Be you written on the cover.

5 Benefits of Journaling 

Journaling offers a wide array of benefits, ranging from emotional well-being to cognitive development. Here are some of the key advantages:

  1. Improved Regulation of  Emotions- it helps you build resilience by processing what you are writing about. It can be a safe channel to release pent-up emotions or allow you to see difficult or challenging situations in a different light and thus process them in a more objective manner. 

  2. Enhance Creativity Thinking - by writing down your thoughts and feelings you can gain a new perspective that can encourage creative ideas to deal with the situation. 

  3. Strengthen Memory - writing can help enhance memory by reinforcing learned information.

  4. Promote Self-Awareness - by faithfully journaling almost everyday you may begin to see recurring behaviors, certain triggers or emotional responses that can be examined and either fostered or altered to promote personal growth and self-care. 

  5. Strengthen Mental Clarity - journaling is a great way to organize your thoughts and feelings to aid in solving problems and clarifying your goals to assist in achieving a positive outcome. 


This Saturday we will be reviewing the book the Alone Advantage by Terri Savelle Foy. This is a great book that also values the positive attributes of journaling. She discusses the five key concepts that successful people do when journaling. So don’t miss the book review this Saturday and grab her book from your local bookstore or Amazon to read all about journaling. 


So grab a pen and paper and begin today to journal whatever comes to mind. Take the time to review your entries and notice any patterns to help gain insight and clarity to your goals and dreams. This is your time to focus on yourself and your life aspirations.


A journal sitting open to a blank page on a flat surface with a pen, candle, green plant next to it.





References

Crawford, A., Sellman, E., & Joseph, S. (2021). Journaling: A more mindful approach to researching a mindfulness-based intervention in a junior school. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 20. https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069211014771

Janesick, V. J. (2015). Contemplative qualitative inquiry: Practicing the Zen of research. Routledge.


 
 
 

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