Journalling has many advantages and can be done in multiple ways. It helps us in venting out, processing emotions, achieving mental clarity, making decisions, enhancing our self-awareness, and improving our mood and sleep. The easiest way I get my clients started is by free writing. All you need is a pen and a piece of paper; begin writing about whatever is going on in your mind. It does not have to make sense or have a start and an end. The main focus is on unloading your mind on paper, however chaotic it may seem. If you are stuck about the starting point, then start writing about your day, the people you met, how it felt and after some time, it will begin to flow out of you. You can start by writing 3-4 days a week for 10-15 minutes and once you achieve that consistency, you can consider increasing it to five. Remember, journalling daily is not a target! Journalling before sleeping has been found to improve sleep but you can journal at any time during the day as well. For those who do not like to write, go for audio journalling! Put on the recorder, speak your heart out, and delete it right after. There is no need to hear the audio or re-read what you have written. Simply delete the audio or tear off the paper.

From the Desk of
Divya Utreja
Clinical Psychologist (RCI)