Write it Down: How Journaling Can Change Your Life
Julie Bitely
| 2 min read
Do you wake up happy? Do you want to? Journaling might just be the thing to help you rewire your brain, whether it’s a shift in attitude you seek or you’re trying to reach other life goals. Research even points to health benefits that can result from keeping a journal, such as increased immunity and reduced stress. Cindy Bjorkquist, Director of Wellness at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, said it’s been a game-changer in her own life. She even bought journals for her children. “Now, I don't know if they're using them, but I sent one to both of my boys and gave it to them because I really do think that there's something about journaling and writing,” she said on the most recent episode of the A Healthier Michigan Podcast, hosted by Chuck Gaidica. [podcast_player] The duo discussed journaling along with other methods people can put in place in their lives to increase mindfulness, gratitude and overall well-being. “So, it's your outlook on life, and you rewire your brain to be either happier or more empathetic or more kind,” Bjorkquist said about the power of positive thinking, or writing if the case may be. If you’d like to try journaling, Bjorkquist said you don’t need a fancy leather-bound journal. Buy a three-ring notebook and get started. Choose something about your life you’d like to change and write about it. It can be a negative emotion or a bad habit. It can be something you’d like to do less of or something you’d like more of in your life. Once you identify what it is, you can even put reminders up that you know you’ll see every day. Bjorkquist has a chalkboard next to her sink reminding her to “Be kind”. “Every single day when I’m at my sink, I’m walking through my kitchen, I see the sign to remind me to be kind,” she said. Bjorkquist recommends giving it a try for three or four weeks and seeing what positivity manifests in your life. Here are some helpful reads to get you started:
- 5 Ways a Journal Can Help You Feel Happier
- How to Start a Gratitude Practice
- Bullet Journal Zen: Organize Your Life with Paper and Pen
Photo credit: artursfoto
