As a young girl, you may remember pulling out that secret diary from under your bed and writing all about what happened that day. Growing up, a diary was a place for you and your thoughts to unravel on paper with no one else around. Now most of us see keeping a diary as a distant memory from our childhood. Believe it or not, picking back up this lost habit can benefit you tremendously in your adult life.
Journaling can teach us a lot about ourselves. Writing things out allows you to gain a better understanding of yourself as an individual. This added sense of self-discovery can put you in a better position for maintaining healthier relationships with others. Down below we cover how journaling can benefit you and provide some prompts to get you started.
How You Can Benefit From Journaling
Journaling is a great way to practice self-care and prioritize your well-being. Keep in mind that as humans, our minds are constantly running. Not taking the time to make sense of our feelings can leave us exhausted both mentally and physically.
Journaling is a great outlet and can help you develop emotional intelligence. Jotting down your most inner thoughts can make you more aware of feelings that you may have subconsciously been trying to push away. Burying your feelings can take a toll on your mental health. Even just dedicating 10 minutes every night to your journal can help alleviate some of the stress and tension that has accumulated throughout the day.
How to Improve Your Relationships With Journaling
Keeping a journal can make a big difference in how you manage your relationships. The key to maintaining a healthy relationship with anyone in your life is in communicating effectively. This is very hard to do if you aren’t sure how you feel about a given situation. When conflict arises our emotions can cause us to not be able to think clearly. Consider taking the time to write how you feel and make sense of it on your own before approaching your partner.
In the heat of the moment, we may also say things we don’t mean or regret later. Our emotions are powerful, which means at times they can get the best of us. When your emotions are at an all-time high, write everything you feel out in your journal. You are much more likely to communicate effectively with your partner when you take the time to reflect and evaluate your feelings.
Prompt Ideas to Get You Started
If this is your first time journaling in a while, it can be hard to get started. The following are some prompts to inspire you when writing:
Prompts designed for self-reflection:
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- List 10 things you’re grateful for today.
- Write down 2 ways you’ve succeeded lately.
- Expand on your aspirations for the upcoming week and how you can work towards them.
- Reflect on how the day went.
- Reminisce on memories that have made you happy.
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Prompts designed for developing relationships:
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- Ask yourself how your partner makes you smile.
- Reflect on some of the battles you and your partner have overcome.
- Think about how your partner has rubbed off on you in a positive way.
- Express what has been bothering you in your relationship.
- Write about how you and your partner have come together to be better parents (if applicable).
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Life can undeniably get very busy, but if possible try and designate a little bit of time every day to journal. Writing and expressing your feelings can benefit you in so many ways mentally. Download additional relationship prompts from Coupon Chief below.
Author Bio
Julia is a content creator who writes on topics ranging from business to lifestyle. She lives in New York City where you can find her running in Central Park, walking her dog, or eating vegan cookies. You can find her on LinkedIn.
