It’s no secret that mental health is a hot topic of discussion as teenagers across the country become more open about their struggles. As this age group continues to discuss mental health issues, it is imperative that students find healthy coping mechanisms to help them get through their high school and college years.
One common form of self-care that can be especially therapeutic is journaling. Personally, I have been keeping journals for as long as I can remember. While originally starting as daily logs in a diary when I was only five years old, I branched out over the years by trying different styles and techniques to find what worked best for me.
Several studies have found that journaling can be beneficial in long-term mental health as it reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression by allowing a safe space for us to deal with our emotions. However, it can be difficult to find motivation to keep consistent journals, especially as some can be put off by the idea of traditional journaling. But since there are so many ways to journal, there are enough styles to work for everyone.
- Daily Journaling: You probably tried keeping a diary at some point in your childhood, and if you found it today it would probably detail the highlights of your little self’s social life. Daily journaling keeps a log of events that you may forget otherwise, including everything you experience in school, with friends, and any interesting interactions or major developments in your life, which can be useful for reflecting in the future.
- Bullet journaling: Another form of daily journaling, but condensed, bullet journals are usually used to log the more mundane parts of your day in a way that allows you to watch yourself progress through your life. Bullet journals can be used to keep track of your exercising, food intake, sleep, spending, and other parts of your day.
- Gratitude journaling: Practicing gratitude has been proven to increase happiness and mental health in several studies. It can be a great mood-booster and a positive way to change your perspective, including on days you are feeling down. Gratitude journals can be as concise or as detailed as you want as long as you make it a habit to consistently look for things in your life to be thankful for. Try something simple like jotting down five things you are grateful for every day.
- Stream of consciousness journaling: Also called freewriting, stream-of-consciousness journaling is a much less structured approach to journaling. This is usually done without any prompts or goals, and is usually less reflective and reporting, but can be equally or even more cathartic than other forms. If you find the repetitiveness of daily and bullet journaling make you feel less likely to maintain consistency, try sitting down and writing every spare thought that crosses your mind to see if that feels more natural.
- Visual journaling: While visual journaling may be a less conventional form, it could be more manageable for those who struggle with finding words for their emotions. Visual journaling can take many different forms, from things like illustrated journaling to keeping a sketchbook or scrapbook or even filming.