Teesside University student Chiedozie Young shares the benefits of journalling and how it has positively impacted his life, using some of his own original illustrations.
Guest blog: Chiedozie Young
Chiedozie is a 2D Animation/Stop Motion student at Teesside University. You can follow more of his work at @chiyoungart.
You may have heard a lot about journalling from friends, family, or even social media, but could be hesitant to try it for yourself.
Maybe you think you’re just not a good enough writer, or you simply don’t see the point.
Though journalling isn’t for everyone, you could be missing out on the benefits of writing your feelings down if you feel discouraged from even starting.
I’ve been keeping my own journal for the past few years and wanted to share some of the reasons it’s been so helpful for me. Hopefully, it’ll encourage you to give it a try.
1. It’s a safe space
Most people who journal don’t like to share what they’ve written with anyone else, and for good reason.
A journal is one place you’re totally free to express your innermost thoughts, however personal, weird, troubling, embarrassing or nonsensical.
There’s no judgement in a journal, so you don’t have to hide anything here. It’s a very liberating feeling.
2. It’s cathartic
Journalling can be a powerful tool for coping with stressful life events.
It is well known that simply talking about negative feelings can make you feel better afterwards, and this applies to writing them down too.
Maybe you’re feeling really anxious about an upcoming exam – taking the time to write down what exactly is making you anxious about it, and why, can help you see things more clearly.
It’s similar to venting to a trusted friend (though not a replacement for it).
3. You learn a lot about yourself
As you continue to write about yourself and your experiences, you start to learn more about who you are.
You begin to notice patterns in your behaviour, emotions you could be bottling up, how much you’ve grown in certain areas, and much more.
This is really valuable insight to have as you navigate your life, because it can help you make better decisions and address issues within yourself that may be holding you back.
4. It’s a record of your life
For me, a journal paints a much more vivid and sincere picture of your life than a photo album ever could.
It doesn’t just document an event itself, but how you processed it. You could relive the memory of moving into a new city in so much detail – how nervous or excited it made you, how you felt about your new neighbours – and it’s all 100% authentic.
Some people even pass down their old journals to their children to aid them in their own journeys.
5. It’s not just writing
The best thing about keeping a journal is that you decide how you do it.
If you’re someone who doesn’t really enjoy writing, you’re free to write as little in it as you want. Many of my own entries have just been one sentence or a set of bullet points.
But more than that, there are lots of other ways you could journal.
You could record a voice note, take photos or videos, do some sketches – anything that helps you process your emotions. The more enjoyable your approach, the more likely you are to stick with it.
Journalling on its own may not solve your problems, but it can be a really handy tool to have as you go through life’s many phases.
Try not to feel too intimidated by it if you’re just starting out. Your first entry doesn’t have to be a lengthy paragraph, and you can be as casual or consistent with it as you need to be.
But most of all, it should never feel like a chore. Journalling is done to alleviate stress, not add to it.
Teesside University supports positive mental wellbeing through its Great Minds campaign.
Students can access a wide range of mental health support services throughout their journeys, including a 24/7 helpline which connects to a qualified counsellor.
Appointments with our advisers in the Student Life team are also available.