Keeping a journal has way more benefits than simply being more organized and helping to get feelings off of your chest proverbially speaking. Journaling on a regular basis has several health benefits, both mental and physical, that we’ll discuss in more depth.
Helps to Aid in Sleep-Making a list of all the things that are worrying you can help clear your head and help you sleep better.* By making a list, you are actively facing your troubles and dealing with them as opposed of attempting to keep them buried in your subconscious.
Helps You to Heal Faster-Studies have shown that journaling on a regular basis helped patients with wounds to heal faster.* Long-term stress can affect levels of the hormone cortisol, which inhibits the immune system.* The participants in one particular study of the health benefits of expressive writing showed lower cortisol levels and exhibited shorter healing times.*
Helps to Improve Mental and Emotional Health-According to one study, after participants wrote about a stressful event, they felt better and improved their psychological well being.* Other studies have shown that people who regularly journal show improvement with depression and anxiety disorders, and journaling helps reduce the amount of time spent worrying.*
Journaling on a regular basis can not only help your physical well being, but your mental well being also. Try to at least take down, whether it be on paper or on your phone, the things in your life that are bothering you and ways to overcome those things and over time, hopefully you’ll see the benefits of expressive writing through journaling. As always, please consult your health care provider when making any changes to your diet or exercise regimen.
Sources-www.goodhousekeeping.com, The National Institute of Health, www.everydayhealth.com