I hope you are well.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, so I wanted to talk about the benefits of journaling. Many people have some stress and anxiety in their life, whether caused by work, studying, health, finance, friendship or something else. Some people have good friends to talk to about their problems, other people play sports to help clear their mind.
One option, which doesn't require any people or special equipment is journaling. We can start journaling anytime, all you need is a pen and notebook! We can write about our struggles, issues, anxieties, absolutely anything - and it’s completely for ourselves so there's no need to worry using elegant language, or any spelling mistakes! It's a very healthy way to express yourself. Rochester University had the following to say about journaling: “It was a place to confess your struggles and fears without judgment or punishment. It likely felt good to get all of those thoughts and feelings out of your head and down on paper. The world seemed clearer.” They also recommend following a few simple guidelines:
- Try to write everyday. It can be a regular time for personal relaxation.
- Make it easy. Keep a pen and paper handy, so you can jot down any thoughts.
- You don’t need to follow a certain structure. You can write or draw your thoughts in any way that is helpful to you.
- If you like you can share your journal with your partner, or close friends. Other people may be able to give you helpful perspectives or good advice for problems you have.
I sometimes experience insomnia from work pressure, or thinking of my family in Japan, who are so far away from me in London. I like to read jolly novels in the evening before I go to sleep. I like to choose books that are completely different from my life, as I want to switch off. This regular reading time helps me to stop thinking about work, and is very relaxing for me. As a small business owner it’s not easy to stop thinking about work completely every evening, but having quality sleep is essential for our mental, as well as physical health.
Rochester University also had this to say: “Keeping a journal helps you create order when your world feels like it’s in chaos. You get to know yourself by revealing your most private fears, thoughts, and feelings. Look at your writing time as personal relaxation time. It's a time when you can de-stress and wind down. Write in a place that's relaxing and soothing, maybe with a cup of tea. Look forward to your journaling time. And know that you're doing something good for your mind and body.” I’m adding journaling on top of reading as a way to help myself destress. I’ve practised the Japanese tea ceremony for a long time, so I use all five senses to enjoy each moment. I can use my favourite Stalogy notebook and pen, which is the right size and colour for me, and can listen to some relaxing music with a nice cup of hojicha tea whilst I journal.
I’m not the best sleeper (I’m always jealous when I see someone falling asleep during a long flight!) so I drink hojicha which has almost no caffeine after 5 O’Clock. My journaling time is a time to get out any stress or anxiety from my head so I can recharge my energy and get a good night's sleep. We have a variety of Stalogy notebooks, some have 366 pages for a one year diary, and others have 183 pages for half a year. We also have a variety of sizes and colours, so you can find something that works perfectly for you.
My favourite pen is the Stalogy 4 Function Pen. Some people like oil based ink pens, and others prefer water based ink to write very smoothly. Whichever you prefer, I believe that good quality pens and paper help stimulate our creativity. Japanese people are slightly mad about stationery, and I am a little bit obsessed with good quality, minimalistic stationery. I hope you like Stalogy too. Whatever stationery you prefer, I hope you give journaling a try. Not only is it great for reducing stress levels, but for improving our creativity and coming up with new ideas. Have a peaceful and relaxing evening.
Keiko