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What I learned from writing a journal every day for a year
Keeping a regular journal can be a rewarding experience that helps to reflect and grow. In 2021, I set myself the goal to write in my journal every day. Here is what I learned along the way.
Journalling helps to calm the mind
I usually write my journal entries at the end of the workday or in the evening before settling down. I noticed that writing my thoughts down makes me feel much calmer. Occasionally, I only become aware of all the thoughts that had been floating around in my head when I sit down to write. When I write them down, I can think through them more clearly and feel like I dealt with them. In fact, there is some research to back this up. Keeping a journal can help with cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), probably because it helps create distance between thoughts and behaviours.
Journalling superchargers learning
As eminent education researcher John Dewey said: “We do not learn from experience…we learn from reflecting on experience”. Indeed, research shows that writing a journal can help to boost learning. Writing helps to condense experiences and focus on the most critical elements. The reflection also helps with finding new solutions for the future. Writing and reflecting activate several cognitive processes…