For better health and well-being, you already know the basics – a nutritious diet, exercise regularly, drink water, and get plenty of sleep. But there’s something else you should add to the list that can yield major benefits: journaling. Writing down what is on your mind can help you release emotions and make sense of what’s going on in your life. It can also help:
- Improve your relationships with others
- Lower your blood pressure
- Decrease symptoms of depression
There is no right way to get started with journaling. You can write about your thoughts and feelings, help with problem-solving, or jot down things you are grateful for. By shifting your focus from your daily hassles to gratitude may:
- Lower stress
- Improve your mood
- Boost your quality of sleep
- Reduce inflammation in your body
The key to journaling is to do what feels best for you and to make it part of your daily routine. To help make it part of your daily routine, try linking it with a habit that you are doing already. For example, after you brush your teeth in the morning or night, take a few minutes to write in your journal. Over time, journaling will become just as automatic and beneficial as reaching for your toothbrush.
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