Journaling Archives - The Motherly Heap https://themotherlyheap.com/tag/journaling/ On Motherhood and Extras Fri, 25 Nov 2022 07:13:31 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://i0.wp.com/themotherlyheap.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/cropped-TMH-Logo.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Journaling Archives - The Motherly Heap https://themotherlyheap.com/tag/journaling/ 32 32 190800540 Journaling for Wellness: Easy Steps To Start https://themotherlyheap.com/journaling-for-wellness/ https://themotherlyheap.com/journaling-for-wellness/#comments Thu, 19 Aug 2021 00:23:12 +0000 https://themotherlyheap.com/?p=6228 When it comes to wellness for moms, there are several ways you can achieve such goals, and one of them is journaling.  You may envision some self-care time, a personal improvement retreat, or a complete overhaul of your wellness strategies. Whatever is happening at this time in your life, you can ensure that journaling can help you attain your well-being and health goals. Achieving a holistic approach to wellness is the key to a better life, calm mind, and healthy body.  As far as I can remember, journaling has been part of me growing up. It has helped me process my emotions and experiences in life. I’ve relied on the benefits that journaling has afforded me all these years. I started on a free-writing style journal as a way to express myself. I’ve also journaled using other methods depending on what I needed and have enjoyed journaling as life continues. Why is journaling good for promoting wellness among moms? You can track your emotions and moods Time to reflect on thoughts (positive/negative) Re-enforce your mindfulness practice Ways to manage your stress Keeps you on track with your healthy habits Encourages growth Writing for Therapy Improves mental health Boosts creative inspirations What are the Types of Journaling you can explore? 1.Gratitude Journal – the name speaks for itself. This type of journal is geared towards seeing the positive in your life and being grateful for them.  2. Goals Journal – a way to track your short-term and long-term goals; it can be personal or professional. 3. Motherhood Journey Journal – you can start this journal from the moment you first knew about being pregnant. This journaling is followed by your pregnancy accounts, postpartum, and beyond. A motherhood journal can expand into milestones, special motherhood memories, and parenting challenges.  4. Fitness Journal – a health journal about your overall fitness journey that includes workouts, fitness goals, fitness progress, even fitness meal plans. 5. Dreams Journal – yes, if you are one of the lucky ones who remember your dreams, then you can begin writing them down. You can also see patterns of dreams. 6. Self-Care Practice Journal – This is different from the fitness journal. This journal is an overall account of your care and commitment to yourself. It can include any self-care practice you have been doing currently and plan to do.  7. Therapy Journal – this is about bringing awareness of your mental health. You can be writing about your thoughts/feelings and coping strategies under a licensed therapist’s guidance. Journaling can also be used for personal growth or overcoming personal struggles. 8. Travel Journal – a handy journal companion when you travel. You can fill it up with trip itineraries, emotions, connections, and photos. Some call it an adventures journal – like a scrapbook-style journal. 9. Reading journal – this journaling focuses on the books you’ve read and your take on them. It can also be for books you are planning to read or simply listing your favorite ones with snippets.  10. Spiritual Journal – practicing spiritual journals can be an excellent cleansing for the soul. You can use this along with your Bible study, High Purpose Journey, or even calmness practice. 11. Nature Journal – can be a practice to appreciate your time with nature, exploration, and experiences. There’s no limit to what you can journal about regarding nature and its healing properties.  12. Food Journal – this is to track your eating habits and nutritional intake. This type of journal can be incorporated together into a fitness journal as well. Journaling can be a free writing journal, a bullet journal, or has guided prompts within. So you have all the options to choose what works best for you.  Sometimes, you may use bullet journaling for fitness or self-care; write freely in a motherhood journal or guide prompts with a therapy journal.  There’s no wrong or correct way to approach journaling for wellness. Instead, you have to see and experiment with what keeps you motivated to journal and what aids you in your wellness journey. How to Start Journaling for Wellness? Know your WHY. Why do you want to journal? What are your expectations in journaling? What are your goals? Let writing in your journal be part of promoting wellness in your life and not just another section in your to-do list. Keep your journaling simple, to begin with. Starting out small and keeping it easy to do. When you venture into more in-depth journaling as you become adept at the practice, your commitment to your writing efforts will increase as well. Make it a ritual. Staying consistent will help you be successful in your journaling practice. You can try to write every day or do a 5-minute journal break. There are many distractions in life; mothering isn’t without struggles; why not keep journaling within your daily routine.  Choose your optimum time. This step can keep you flexible about the time when you write in your journal. You can journal anytime; it doesn’t have to be in the morning or at bedtime. I prefer the early morning or early afternoon when there’s downtime in our home. Write it down; type it or use journal apps you can try out. For me, I thrive in doing it traditionally with simple pen and paper. Mixing creativity and staying simple.  This answers number four above. So do you – do what works for you. Whatever type or how you journal – you can try it out, and you’ll be able to see what’s an effective method for you. Some will start with 2 paragraphs, a drawing, listing, or even writing letters to self.  Keep it near and within sight. If you see it, you are more likely to jot down what you intended to do. If it’s hidden somewhere or far from where you unwind, you’ll most likely skip it. Setting your expectations with journaling. Although journaling is a part of considerable aspects of self-care, it might not solve all your woes and problems. However, it can act as a bridge towards healing, growth, and recovery.  **This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase from the affiliate links, I may earn a commission from your purchase. There’s no extra cost to you if you decide to click and buy. Thank you for your continued support of this blog. Full Disclosure** The Tools You’ll Need to Start journaling: Your preferred journal. A guided one, blank slate, workbook, etc. Pens/Highlighters Stickers/Washi Tapes Or a phone app (Reflections. app) **not an affiliate or a sponsor of this product; check out what this app can offer and if it’s what you’re looking for.** Other journaling accessories to keep you motivated/inspired writing in your chosen journal.  So whichever you prefer to use in your journaling practice, you can ensure that reaching your wellness goals isn’t that far. Here are 30 Journal Prompts to inspire you and help you jumpstart Your Wellness Journaling Journal Prompts for Wellness: Today I chose ____. Describe what wellness is to you. How are you staying healthy? Enumerate your wellness goals. Name something you struggle with. Why? Are you resistant to change? One thing you want to accomplish for wellness today. Your biggest obstacle towards wellness. Write down your wellness win for this week.  My wellness priority today is _____. Journal Prompts for Happiness: Describe a happy moment. Write down 4 things that make you smile. Have you seen a beautiful image today? One kindness act – you did or witnessed. Write a thank you letter to yourself. What are the three main things/experiences that make you happy? List down the names of people that add happiness to your life. Are you afraid to fail? How do you feel? What motivates you to find joy? Remember a happy memory and write it down as a story. Journal Prompts for Motherhood: When did you become a mom? Describe the first moment with your newborn; next child. How are you celebrating your motherhood? Write three statements – what motherhood is to you. What makes a good mom? List your fears and worries today. How do you want to parent? Gentle, Intentional, Strict? Why? The happiest memories since becoming a mom. I am _____. In five years, what do you envision in your mothering journey? Takeaway in Journaling for your Wellness Starting can be an easy step; staying on with the practice may pose a challenge, especially to us moms who are on the go all the time. Check your routine, pick your chosen journal, stay consistent, take the time, and last, keep your sight on your why.  I encourage you to find the time to pick up your pen and journal. Then take this chance to commit to your wellness through journaling every day fervently. Happy Journaling!  If you found this post helpful, please share it or Pin it! Thank you!

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