The benefits of journaling

As a family caregiver, it is likely that you are busy busy, and feel overwhelmed at times, trying to manage and juggle all that is on your plate? Do you have to-do lists that are as long as your arm? Do you have a habit of putting self care on this to-do list? An effective way to prioritize and manage all that busyness AND keep yourself on the agenda, is journaling.  Journaling can be a powerful tool with a wealth of benefits.

While it is a powerful tool, not everyone is sold on the idea of journaling. In a recent consumer survey, only about 10 % of people caring for aging parents kept a journal. And why not? It turns out that there are some misconceptions that are getting in the way of adopting a journaling practice.

Misconceptions about journaling

1. It is an adult diary. Journaling doesn’t have to be about pouring out all your thoughts and feelings about the day in a stream of consciousness kind of way. In fact, doing it this way hasn’t proven to be beneficial. There are many ways to journal-depending on what you want to get out of it.
2. It is time consuming. If you journal like it’s a diary…then sure, it’s time consuming. But if you don’t approach it this way, it need not take more than a few minutes of your day.
3. It is a waste of time. It is self-indulgent. WRONG. Journaling has many proven benefits.

5 compelling (yup, compelling) benefits of journaling

1. Goal accomplishment. When you write down your goals, your plans, your intentions you are more likely to accomplish them. Seeing them written down puts you in the driver’s seat of your life. That can be motivating. Writing signals to your brain “this is important”. It is also a way to hold ourselves accountable.
2. Helps you prioritize how you spend your time. With a journal in front of you, you slow down enough and are present enough to think about what is important to you. This sets the stage for you to prioritize how to spend your time. On the flip side, you are letting go of activities that take up space in your head but are not important to you.
3. Creates the habit of self-discipline. Making the time to journal is an act of discipline and becomes habit building. Self-discipline is good for our self esteem and wellness. How?  When we follow through with our plans and have good habits… we feel good!
4. Fosters mindfulness. Journaling is a way of bringing your awareness into the present moment. The benefits of mindfulness are many and far-reaching.
5. Increases self-awareness. You can notice your own patterns, such as what your priorities are   or what makes you happy. Starting with ‘noticing’, you can then decide if you want to make changes in how you spend your days. That is, through journaling, you can reflect in a meaningful way about your life.

At elizz.com we know about the reality of a day-in-the-life of a family caregiver. We know you are busy and that at times you feel overwhelmed with all that you have to do in a day. We know that time is precious. We know that self care can be a challenge.