Why You Should Start a Journal – Quarantine Tips

I’m Christian Foremost, a Filipino Blogger/Writer/Podcaster and mental health advocate who writes personal stories of growth, life advice, and refreshing perspectives to inspire you to love yourself. I promote daily journaling as a healthy outlet to express and explore one’s honest thoughts and feelings. The path towards self-discovery and actualization starts by acknowledging your truths and facing your problems head-on.

How are you holding up? We’ve all been in isolation for quite some time now, and I have to admit that it’s an everyday battle for me to stay sane. The new normal is coming and a lot of changes are going to be observed. The outside world will be different and we can’t exactly jump back into the life we had before. Honestly, this is just all too much. A lot of us are facing difficulties and challenges, fueling our worries and intensifying our anxieties for the future. How will we adapt? How will we get through this? When will this finally end?

We don’t know. Everything is uncertain and confusing. The media is saying one thing and then another. Bad news on top of bad news. And, to think that the whole world is also experiencing this right now, is just terrifying. Before we get buried by overwhelm and lose hope altogether, why don’t we take a deep breath and check in with ourselves?

You Should Start a Journal!

Journaling or writing in a diary can be a healthy outlet for your thoughts. A journal is a safe place, free of judgment where you can be 100 percent honest with yourself. Writing in a journal is basically having a conversation with yourself. By hearing yourself talk or seeing the words before your eyes, you gain a bit more understanding of yourself and your current situation. Your journal is a friend ready to listen, especially during the times when you feel like nobody would understand.

The magnitude of emotions you’re feeling right now and your numerous internal dilemma is all valid, no matter how big or small. Don’t hide your feelings or try to contain them all in your head, express them in a healthy manner. Let your thoughts out and begin to process your feelings. You don’t have to figure everything out, make sense of the world or come up with answers to all of your problems. You just need to clear your head and free yourself of the mental burden.

Come on. You can do it!

You don’t have to be a writer to have a journal. You just need to be willing to open the doors of your mind and then, let your thoughts burst through. Don’t think about what you write, but write about what you’re thinking. You’ll eventually notice how your words are flowing out of your like a river. Journaling releases this tension in your head and allows you to gain that clarity you need to know what you have to do.

Writing your thoughts down in a journal is also very helpful when you want to get to sleep right away. You won’t be tossing and turning in your bed for hours anymore. Through writing down on a journal, you’ve somehow acted on the thoughts in your head so you don’t need to contemplate on them further.

I’ve personally, incorporated journaling during mornings to kind of clear my head so that I’m all focused during work. I also developed a habit of popping open my Journey app, or mobile diary whenever I’m having a mental breakdown or suddenly stuck in a mental funk. These tend to happen a lot, but after a thousand words or two, I’m alright again.

We can get through this Pandemic!

During quarantine, we’re away from friends and are left idle inside our homes so we have a lot of time to overthink. We collect all of this information and let them circle around our heads for days and days. Don’t let your fears and worries fester longer than they should. Let your thoughts out of your head and allow yourself to reflect.

We need that sense of peace and to convince ourselves that things are going to be better. The reality of our world right now is too much to handle and as scary as things are, we have to keep surviving, physically and mentally. Let yourself help yourself and know that you have the strength within you to get through this. We can get through this.

Disclaimer: The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your mental health professional or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your condition.

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Thoughts:

Sarrah Jane Cea
You are doing great in handling your mental breakdown. I have been journaling and it really helps me calm down and sleep peacefully. Creativity also flows while I’m expressing my thoughts. ❤

Dawn Lyndelle Fernando Paragas
Love this! I should have started writing long before pa. I always forget some of my “profound” (haha) thoughts and then regret it because I dont write them down. Blogging has been a good outlet for me and it kind of feels like my online journal. 🙂

Kurt Everfresh
A healthy outlet indeed! Writing skills will definitely improve. 👌🏻

Clang Clang
”everyday battle for me to stay sane” – parang ganito din ako ah. Ang tagal ko na balak mag journal pero hanggang ngayon di ko pa din nagagawa. Ma-try nga yung journey app.

WanderWoMom
thats nice. okay yung you write your thoughts para pag kalmado ka na you can process your feelings after.

Wendyflor Palomo
i have a journal din. ilang notebooks yun for each of my sons and for myself… another one for my husband. when i’m gone ang dami nilang babasahin hahaha

Jan Darren
Great idea, another avenue to vent off thoughts and emotions during lockdown. Agree also that it clears the head, since the ability to spill the thought out.

Dorry Lyn
I’m into journaling back then. If I’m not mistaken highschool pa cguro.. this reminds me to lool for that journal 🙂

Abby Sung
I started journaling too and I write the things that I don’t want to share to others but keep I keep it in my journal. Mas safe 😀

Homebound Mom
Yep, been doing this for quite a while. Pero sometimes, nakakalimutan din lalo na if swamped with work and chores.

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