I haven't always enjoyed writing.
In all honesty, I used to really hate it. My middle school English teacher made us write for 10 minutes straight at the start of each class period every single day without stopping. In the beginning, I struggled. I didn't know what to write, because the thought of my words on paper unedited and raw was frightening. I grew up as a reserved and introverted kid. I picked my words carefully because when I spoke, I wanted it to be just right.
So, writing this way kind of threw all of that out the window. This exercise forced me to be raw with my writing. It taught me that first drafts are worth reading, that it's okay to strike out words, and that nothing has to be perfect on the first try. It also taught me that I enjoyed unstructured writing and that I found joy in sitting down and pouring out my thoughts. To me, it doesn't matter if my words are read, but if they are, I always hope they touch somebody, inspire somebody, or teach somebody.
Journaling is incredibly personal, and I believe there is great value in documenting your thoughts. Let me convince you.
1. It relieves stress.
Every college student can relate to feeling stressed (some more than others). Dedicating even just five minutes to journaling will release thoughts from your mind that you didn't even know were stressing you out. Sometimes, writing something down and getting it out of your head will de-stress you better than anything else.
2. It cultivates positivity.
When I journal, I find myself writing down things I hope to happen or goals I have for the future. This keeps me positive because it's tangible evidence that I have things to work towards. It always keeps me hopeful for the day ahead.
3. It shows growth.
I started journaling in 2014. I recently read through all my journals, and I was awestruck by how much I've grown as a person through the years. There is something so intimate and inspiring about reading your thoughts from years ago. My only wish is that I had started sooner.
4. It inspires gratitude.
Most ~expert journalers~ recommend "beginners" to start by writing down things they are grateful for that happened throughout the day. I love sitting down at the end of the day and picking out things that really made be grateful to be alive. Even my worst days held moments that I am grateful for.
5. It makes you self-aware.
Jotting down your thoughts will enable you to see your flow of consciousness. Does your mind tread towards thinking positively or are you thinking negatively? Do you see the good in every day or do you tend to pick out the bad? Do you have passion and drive, or do you feel yourself lacking ambition? Seeing how your thoughts flow out will help you see if there is needed improvement in your thought processes.
6. It tracks passion.
Is there a reoccurring theme to your journal entries? If there is, that could be where your passion lies. For me, I found I constantly journaled about how I could be kinder, how I treated others, and how I loved nutrition. I found that I had a passion for learning about nutrition, and how I could help others through that field. Without journaling, I wonder if I would have ever put those all together enough to gather the courage to change my major.
7. It's a safe place.
No one ever has to read the words you write if you don't want them to be read. Write whatever you want in your journal. Is school stressing you out? Journal about it. Having problems with your social life? Journal about it. Struggling with your family life? Journal about it. Find the value in a safe place to vent.
8. It brings clarity.
Writing things down turns the abstract into the concrete. It simplifies your thoughts, your goals, and your feelings into words. And words are a lot easier to understand than a flurry of thoughts running through your mind.
9. It keeps your memories.
I wish it wasn't true, but memories tend to fade over time. If you writing everything down, you'll be able to remember forever through your written words. What better time to write down memories than in college? You'd be grateful for it ten, fifteen, or fifty years from now.
All it takes is ten minutes out of your day. If ten minutes is too long, then take five minutes. Trust me, it'll be worth it.
