I did a lot of research for this one. Mainly because there are a lot of publications on this topic, both in quantity and variety.
Journaling, expressive writing, or whatever you want to call it has an array of benefits.
I’ve somewhat started my own personal journal, but like anything it takes about 60 days to develop (or break) a habit. So some days I’m on it, others…not so much.
Should you do the same? Let’s look at who journaling is good for and what the possible perks it may offer.
First off, there are actually some people who should not be journaling. I didn’t think I’d learn this during my investigating.
According to this study, journaling can actually increase your anxiety if you are the type of person who does not normally express emotion.
The study states that journaling can help reduce anxiety, but that only was the case for those who had high levels of expressiveness. In other words, people who express emotions benefitted greatly from journaling.
People with low expressiveness actually had the opposite effect.
PAJ or Positive Affect Journaling as opposed to just writing your thoughts down shows to be great for mitigating stress, increasing well-being, and physical functioning for those with medical conditions.
This may be the key for those who have low expressiveness.
Additionally, journaling has been shown to improve learning and education. In a few studies, journaling actually increases competency and engagement during the learning process.
For those with mental health issues like post-traumatic stress, journaling can help increase short-term reductions for those with post-traumatic stress. Other mental health patients can find an increase in perspective taking, understanding of self and others, and improve health and the healing process.
In summary, I think it would be wise to start journaling if you aren’t already. Due to its low risk of adverse effects, it likely won’t hurt to give it a whirl!
Recent Comments