Journaling

17 May 2021

How does journaling work, and why should we practice it?

Journaling works on multiple levels:

  • It allows us to express our emotions, which can support our well-being by letting us organize thoughts and feelings on paper.
  • This prevents thoughts from taking up room in our heads, and gives us a chance to reflect on the idea of cause and effect in our own experiences
  • Journaling also helps ease our distress when we’re struggling, and has even been shown to improve immune system health!

Journaling Guide

There is no one right way to journal. Here are a few prompts for different types of journaling — explore which is right for you!

  • Expressive Writing
    • To do this, you write continuously for 20 minutes (or however long feels right to you!) about your deepest thoughts and emotions around an issue in your life.
  • Lynda Barry List-Making
    • Make 2 columns & divide them horizontally. Write the date at the top.
    • In the top rows, write 7 things you saw and 7 things you did
    • In the bottom rows, write one thing you heard and one thing to draw.
  • Bullet Journaling
    • Log your calendar events, to-do lists, and diary entries in one place!
    • Learn more about the BuJo technique.
  • One Line a Day
    • Write one line (anything!) on each page of the journal every day of the year. Each year, you return to the page for that date and add a new line.
    • To learn more about this style of journaling, check out OHP’s tabling event during Week 9 outside Sayles.

References

Newman, Kira M. “How Journaling Can Help You in Hard Times.” Greater Good, 18 Aug. 2020.

Downloadable PDF version