Dreading
your next term paper? Losing sleep over midterm exams?
Plotting to pulverize your roommate's boyfriend because
he spends more time in your dorm room than you do?
Then you're ready to do some journaling. Unlike a
diary, journaling is not a daily account of your life; it's
more like an emotional purge. But here's a warning:
keep this material private. Posting your inner most
thoughts online will likely cause you (and possibly others)
more harm than good.
Through
journaling, you can explore difficult thoughts, feelings,
and situations with easy to use writing and art exercises.
You'll feel more confident because you'll have a
better understanding of yourself and a clearer insight into
others. Journaling promotes creativity, reduces stress,
and strengthens problem solving skills.
To
make the most of your journaling, follow these suggestions:
1.
Spend at least 15-20 minutes a day journaling.
Pick times and days that fit your schedule - don't let scheduling
become another stressor.
2.
Find a location that's interruption free. Clear
your desk, turn off all phones and computers, and let friends
know you're busy.
3.
Select supplies - notebooks, art pads, pencils, magic
markers, and crayons, colored or plain paper - that will
uncork your creative genius. If you think someone
will read your journal, buy one that locks.
4.
Don't evaluate, compare, or grade your work. Use
journaling to be more creative in your schoolwork, more
effective in your relationships, and to stay focused on
your life goals.
If
you're not sure what to write about, here's an exercise
to get you started from Discovering Ourselves Through
Acts of Creation: The Healing Tools of Journaling:
Define
yourself in new ways. Finish the following sentence
ten times with the first thoughts that come to mind, "I
am the one who." Below are four examples to spur
your own ideas:
I
am the one who .likes
to be able to change my mind if something else interests
me.
I
am the one who .loves
to eat peanut butter and jelly on whole-wheat pita bread.
I
am the one who .takes
naps in the afternoon on hot sunny, summer days.
I
am the one who .makes
sure that everyone gets his or her homework in on time.
So
who are you? Keep writing to increase your self-discovery,
reduce stress, and release some pent up emotions. You'll
be glad you did!
Andrea
S. Peck is a writer, coach, workshop leader, and
Assistant
Professor of Communications at Cuyahoga Community College
in Cleveland, OH. She is the author of
Discovering
Ourselves Through Acts of Creation: The Healing Tools of
Journaling (see link below) and can be reached
at
apeck812@sbcglobal.net.
