Modern life and stress go together, right? Constant stress from juggling demands and obligations has become a regular part of our lives. Some level of stress is okay; it keeps you motivated and growing as a person. But sometimes pressure can tip over into anxiety and leads to all sorts of problems, and you need to work out how best to deal with it. Journaling is an increasingly popular and effective way of managing your day-to-day stress levels. Here’s how you can put it to work in your life.
1. Journaling takes you away from the digital world
Journaling with pen and paper is soothing and grounding in a way a screen and keyboard can’t compete with. You can’t rush writing with a pen or pencil.
Journaling in a real notebook helps you to step aside from scrolling or jumping from one thing to another. You can only have one tab open in a notebook! The physical act of writing or sketching uses your whole body to make marks; it’s grounding and centering in a good way.
2. Journaling helps you change your mindset
Journaling is a naturally reflective process. Keeping note of all the good 
things in your life helps to keep negativity at bay and to reset your attitude to positive. When you’re feeling down, you can leaf back through your journal and remember the good things in your life, but you can also review your accomplishments and how you overcame challenges.
Sometimes we forget about our accomplishments when we’re under stress – journaling can help remind you of your strengths.
3. Journaling brings instant stress relief
Writing down your frustrations, hopes, and fears can give you an immediate emotional release. Instead of stewing about how other people have treated you, your journal gives you a safe space to download all your anger, hurt, and frustration.
Once you’ve poured your feelings out onto the page, you will feel better. You might even gain a unique perspective on the situation. At the very least, the problems will not be swirling around in your head anymore. Journaling can be a great antidote to brooding!
4. Journaling can help you find the source of your stress
The act of writing in your journal can unleash a flood of unacknowledged
feelings. The thing that’s stressing you out today might just be your unreasonable boss or nagging co-worker – at least on the surface. But perhaps you’re reacting this way because they are triggering memories of people who have mistreated you in the past?
Does your partner do something that reminds you of a past relationship? Are you behaving in a self-destructive way because of a past failure that you fear repeating?
Journaling can help you find the real source for your bad feelings and provide a way forward. Writing down your feelings and analyzing the situation can help you achieve a healthy distance from it, giving you time to de-stress, regain your composure, and see a clear way forward.
