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Why Journaling Should be Part of Your Self-Care Routine

We all have dozens of things to get done throughout the day. From cooking the latest organic recipe for dinner to taking Sparky to the dog park, one thing that we just don’t have enough of is spare time. However, there really is no excuse for not developing at least one intentional, holistic habit. 

Have you ever thought about keeping a journal? 

If you already have a perfectly leather-bound journal awaiting you at home, then great! If you’d rather scroll through your Twitter feed than put pen to paper after a long work day, well, then we’re here to illuminate the importance of an intentional habit like journaling.

 

What’s so great about journaling?

It may surprise you to learn that journaling for a mere 15 minutes each day has a significant number of benefits for your health and wellbeing. In fact, one study found that people who journal are generally healthier than those who don’t take the time to document their thoughts and feelings in words.

Moreover, the study found that 76 percent of adults who spent 20 minutes journaling for three consecutive days healed faster after a medical biopsy than those who did not journal. That’s right -- the written word really does have the power to heal! 

Even if your journaling habit doesn’t heal you physically, expressive writing is directly connected with therapy. The same study found that participants who wrote about their stressful or emotional events were less likely to be seriously affected by trauma. Clearly, this intentional habit can make a truly positive impact on both your physical and mental wellness.

 

Intentional journal prompts to get you started

If you are trying out the journaling thing for the first time, following an intentional journal prompt may be useful to get your creative juices flowing. Using a prompt can spark your inspiration and help you move forward with your writing when you’re stuck.

Here are some of our favorite intentional journal prompts:

  1. What are you grateful for today? 

  2. What is your favorite part of your home, and why?

  3. What is your favorite memory from this week?

  4. How do you want to spend your day today? (*This one is great for journaling in the morning!)

  5. What makes you feel most alive?

  6. What are you looking forward to this season?

  7. Who inspires you the most?

  8. What is most important to you in life?

Journaling can prove to be an integral part of your self-care routine, so why not try it out for yourself? After all, fostering an intentional habit like journaling can make all the difference in the way you see yourself, your health, and the world.