The Power of Journaling
Benefits of Getting Your Thoughts and Words on Paper
By Katie Zivley, Co-Editor-in-Chief
When students arrive home after a long day, many look for ways to decompress after hours of school and work. One way of achieving that is by releasing all their thoughts and emotions onto paper: journaling.
Journaling is an activity people can use when they have something to say but are unsure how or where to project it. The practice provides an effective escape from the everyday stress of people’s lives, and there are different types of journaling, such as bullet and junk journaling, allowing students to find the best fit for them.
Bullet journaling consists of creating to-do lists, writing reminders and finding various ways to organize a person’s life.
“I journal for anything from keeping track of things that pop into my head — usually content ideas for my internship or the iPulse social media pages — to just writing about my day,” said Sydney Burke, a Lynn University senior and social media editor for iPulse.
Junk journaling entails keeping personal items that people enjoy and want to remember, such as receipts from a fun day with friends, stickers people like or even birthday cards from loved ones.
“Journaling and keeping sentimental items are both good practices to keep yourself grounded and in touch with one’s emotions and priorities,” said Vishwa Shukla, a Lynn freshman.
Many members of Gen Z benefit from journaling by writing down things they need to do, ideas that might pop into their heads or even exciting plans for their futures. Doing so can be a useful and therapeutic exercise.
“I like journaling a lot. I like to write down three things I’m grateful for every day to kind of start my day,” said Kayla Meltzer, a Lynn senior and member of Lynn’s chapter of Her Campus.
Along with itemizing to-do lists or documenting what individuals are feeling, those who journal can make the practice more enjoyable by using different colors, stickers and pictures. Adding some favorite items and keepsakes to their journals makes it even more personal and enjoyable.
