| > | | | | your health and answer any potential questions |
| Journaling Techniques | | | | healthcare providers or other advisors may have for |
| By: Christin Snyder | | | | you. |
| So far we have discovered many of the benefits | | | | *Mood Journals |
| journaling provides. Some of them include: at-a-glance | | | | The benefit of this style of journal is to track our |
| records of health/diet issues, spiritual/emotional healing, | | | | emotions and find the reasons for different emotional |
| dream interpretation, and creative inspiration. The list is | | | | shifts, mood swings etc. For people with anxiety |
| ongoing, but the point is they can be of great benefit to | | | | disorders, depression, or shifting hormones, these types |
| anyone who uses them. | | | | of journals provide tremendous benefits in being able |
| Journaling is something that can be personalized to suit | | | | to look at the effects of various elements. Record in |
| the needs of every individual. Journals are not just | | | | this journal your feelings, why you are having them, |
| diaries where you spend hours each day recording all | | | | and anything that may be having an effect such as |
| your deepest, darkest, secrets. Journals can be very | | | | diet, medication, stress levels etc. |
| practical, and in many cases, can simplify the lives of | | | | *Quotations Journals |
| those who use them. Everyone can find at least one | | | | These journals are wonderful for a variety of reasons. |
| style of journaling to benefit from, regardless of how | | | | Use them as a quick pick-me-up, sparks for writing, or |
| busy their lifestyle is. | | | | to inspire others. These journals are the simplest to |
| Below are some of the different types of journals that | | | | keep because it only takes a moment to add a quote |
| can be created. Keep in mind one does not have to | | | | or phrase to your collection. Let this fun journal keep |
| be a writer at all to benefit from journaling. In fact, | | | | you inspired. |
| many writers, myself included, didn’t realize their | | | | *Writer Sparks Journals |
| passion for writing until picking up a journal. Words can | | | | For those of us who love to write, this journal can be a |
| work for all of us. | | | | great tool for dealing with writers block and keeping |
| *Dream Journaling | | | | the creative juices flowing. Ever noticed how those |
| Recording dreams in a journal gives you a window into | | | | great ideas always seem to pop up at inopportune |
| your subconscious. Our dreams reveal the depths of | | | | moments? Have you ever just sat there staring at the |
| our being. Dream journals allow us to better remember | | | | blank screen wishing something would come out? |
| our dreams, to view repeating patterns, and to explore | | | | Keeping a small notebook/journal with you can help |
| and interpret our own unique dream language. Many | | | | you to record these little ideas as they come up, or |
| who keep them are surprised by how much they learn | | | | you can jot down your idea and add it later. Whenever |
| about themselves, and how effective these journals | | | | you want to write, open up your journal and out pops |
| are in the healing and growth process. | | | | some great material to get you started. |
| *Personal Diaries | | | | *Electronic Calendars/Journals in one |
| These are the standard lock and key books many of | | | | In the electronic age we are provided with a whole |
| us have kept since childhood. This kind of journal | | | | new set of options. Our planners and organizers can |
| allows us to record daily life experiences, our thoughts, | | | | also be incorporated into journaling through different |
| feelings, and actions. This type of journal serves a | | | | software programs that allow you to keep your |
| great purpose, it allows us to express ourselves freely | | | | information encrypted and safe from prying eyes. This |
| without judgment. Reviewing these journals over time | | | | is a convenient way to keep everything organized in |
| allows us to see how much we have grown and | | | | one centralized location, and can keep even the |
| changed. Often the old ones are humorous ;), and we | | | | severest procrastinator in the habit of keeping notes. |
| can see just how much wiser we’ve become. | | | | These are just a few examples of the many different |
| *Food/Exercise Lifestyle Journals | | | | styles of journaling. Everyone can find a method or |
| These journals are wonderful for those embarking on | | | | combination of methods that works well for them. |
| new health/improvement goals. By recording your | | | | Now that you have seen the benefits, the various style |
| progress, you are able to look back and see | | | | ideas, and the keys to successful journaling I hope you |
| at-a-glance how far you’ve progressed. This is | | | | will be inspired to use writing as the healing tool it can |
| a powerful way to remain motivated to achieve goals. | | | | be. |
| This type of journal is also beneficial as a way to track | | | | |