The life of a college student is not easy.

There is so much to keep up with and stay on top of that and it is easy to stray away and lose a sense of peace. Personally, this distraction can be very frustrating and I need a time to just me and my thoughts.

Through this frustration, I found that keeping a journal was a life saver. At first, it was difficult to remind me to write and it felt a little forced.

However, over time it all started to feel more natural. Sometimes, I find myself writing every day if I seem to be overthinking things or have too much downtime. The moments when I gain the most peace is when I leave a few days or even a week in between entries. I have left time and space for tension and stress to build up. Once I put my pen to the paper, I release it all.

It is so surprising what you can learn about yourself by keeping a journal.

There are so many feelings and emotions, and even just random thoughts that I didn’t even realize were there until I write them down. I also find myself carrying my journal in my book bag throughout the day. It is a little comforting knowing that it is there in case I find down time with thoughts and a need for release.

Each entry seems to be different and some are more casual than others.

Some days, I have a huge urge to write but my mind seems so still and uninteresting. In those moments, I start just writing what is going on around me. If I am listening to music, I will write down the song and a few lyrics that appeal to me. Sometimes making a small list of exciting things or moments that I am looking forward to can create so much comfort.