Keeping a daily journal is a concept that includes writing down your thoughts (or whatever comes to mind) right after you wake up, and the benefits of journaling are plenty.

Many successful people are practicing it and describe it as one of the simplest habits they’ve developed, but which has a positive effect on every area of their lives.

So what are the actual benefits of journaling? How can they change your life, you as a person and how you see things?

17 Fantastic Benefits of Journaling

1. It makes you less anxious.

You’re putting your negative emotions on paper and that helps you leave them behind and move on. And often, during the process of journal writing, you understand the origin of your fears, worries and doubts and can think of ways to work on that so it doesn’t happen again.

2. Clarity.

When keeping a journal, you free your mind, let all thoughts out and thus make room for freedom and joy.

3. You become more expressive.

By building the habit of sharing what’s on your mind every morning in a journal, you learn to be more open about your feelings, find the rights words to describe them, and start understanding them better.

4. Better communication skills.

As a result of the last one of the benefits of journaling, you feel more comfortable with sharing all that not only to the notebook/laptop, but also to other people.

5. You become clear about your issues.

When writing, or when reading old morning pages, you start realizing that some of the things you write about have a lot in common.

You contemplate on that and see some problems in your life, themes that occur without you even noticing. Now you can do something about them.

6. You build discipline.

Many times you won’t really be in the mood to write, especially first thing in the morning. But once you’ve decided to develop this habit, you’ll stick to it. This improves your willpower and you’ll soon be able to notice the many benefits of journaling.

7. Getting to know yourself better.

By writing in the morning for some time you start digging inside your true self, you reveal deeper parts of your soul. You find things you didn’t know existed – be it hidden desires and dreams, talents, fears or creativity.

8. New ideas.

In the beginning, you may not have a lot to say, but you’ll make yourself write a few paragraphs. Then, you’ll find yourself coming up with new stuff to share on the page. And you’ll become an idea generator – ideas for your business, on how to improve yourself and different aspects of your life, etc.

9. You think better.

Writing is a creative process, but it also engages your brain – both the left and the right side.
That’s why in time you start solving problems and getting to know yourself through writing in the morning.

10. Overcoming traumatic events.

Putting your fears and worst memories in writing may not be easy, but once you do it a couple of times, you find it to be a relieving process.

Morning pages can be a therapy if you let out the stuff that’s bothering you and just write about your worst experiences.
This way you can get over them, you can let them be, let them stay in the past and move on.

Read also: From Surviving Trauma to Becoming a Somatic Trauma Coach and Breathwork Teacher

11. Better sleep.

Another benefit of letting all your thoughts out and putting them on paper is that your mind is now free to relax, without going through daily problems and worries over and over again. There are health benefits of journaling too. For example, you even start to sleep better.

12. Less stress.

Starting your day with this writing exercise lets you be less overwhelmed and more relaxed and peaceful for the whole day.

13. You remove mental blocks.

Your mind is alert, you’re absolutely present while writing.

Another one of the great benefits of journaling is that it makes you think without putting too much effort, and at the same time it lets you relax and let go of everything that stops you from being in the present moment and truly experiencing it.

You’re also able to think of new ways to do regular stuff, and tackle big ideas more effectively.

14. Gratitude as a result of journaling.

One of the best topics to write about, and another one of the benefits of journaling, is sharing what you’re thankful for. It can be as simple as ‘write 3 things you’re grateful for right now’.

But doing it daily makes you see the abundance you live in. You start focusing on what you already have in your life, you feel good about it and appreciate it. That’s the real face of happiness.

Read also: Scientifically Proven Benefits of Gratitude: How Being Grateful Can Change Your Life

15. Better mood.

You also get energized and motivated, and are ready to face the day when you start journaling.

16. You improve your writing.

Soon you’ll notice that words come easily, even if you never actually enjoyed writing or were good at it.

As a result of the benefits of journaling, you’ll also be able to write a lot daily, not just a page. And will do it faster. Which is a useful skill these days.

17. It helps you discover your creativity.

Believe it or not, everyone has a creative genius within. It just needs to be unleashed.

Once you do, you’ll not only become a better writer and more expressive, but will generate more ideas, will have a better imagination, will become a more interesting person and will live more passionately.

I hope these positive effects are enough to convince you to give journaling a try.

What other benefits of journaling do you know of? And which of these do you think is most important?