Why Writers Should Journal (Even When We Don’t Want To)

I write at least two original blog posts or pages a day and edit multiple others daily. I get why, as a writer, you might not want to journal. After all, the last thing you probably want to do during your off time is write. I feel your pain, but I’m here to encourage you to journal anyway. 

Just like the cobbler’s child has no shoes, the bus driver doesn’t want to take a bus on vacation, and the plumber’s toilets don’t work, we don’t usually want to spend our time off writing. But, the benefits of journaling far outweigh the aversion to writing. Here’s why writers should journal, even when we don’t want to.

The Overall Benefits of Journaling

Journaling obviously isn’t for writers, and the benefits people get from the practice aren’t exclusive either. It’s some of these general benefits that made me want to launch a journaling habit this year.

Benefits of journaling include:

• Stress Reduction. Writing about your thoughts and feelings can help to clear your mind and reduce stress.
• Emotional Processing. Journaling helps you process complex emotions, making them more manageable and less overwhelming. I often work out my feelings and problems while I’m writing. 
• Mental Clarity. I wish you could see (or maybe I don’t) the number of times I stop writing and just start drawing words or phrases with boxes and lines or making lists. I work through all types of thoughts while I’m journaling. It can improve your ability to focus and concentrate by organizing your thoughts and clearing mental clutter.
• Emotional Release and Regulation. No one sees your journal. So, if you’re pissed off, you can write about it, even if you know your feelings might not be totally logical. Journaling provides an outlet for expressing and understanding your emotions.
• Self-Reflection. I’m always trying to improve myself, which also means I’m always trying to better understand my thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Journaling encourages self-reflection, helping you better understand yourself.
• Enhanced Creativity. Don’t you just love that eureka moment? Writing can stimulate creative thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Goal Setting and Achievement. Have you heard that a goal without a plan is just a wish? Your journal can be where you document your goals and make plans for accomplishing them. You can revisit these goal pages regularly to make sure you’re on track or adjust plans.
• Improved Sleep. You may know that waking up worrying in the middle of the night is one of the reasons I journal. It helps me get things out and let them go, so I can fall asleep and stay asleep. I don’t need to worry because I’ve either worked through the problem or I’ve stored it in a place where I can revisit it later.
• Improve Mental and Physical Health. Studies show that expressive writing can improve your mental health and immune functioning, reducing stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms and reducing symptoms of some other illnesses.
• Self-Discovery. I read a book in my Ph.D. program that essentially claimed self-insight was a myth. This concept stuck with me. Can we ever really know ourselves? Is it impossible to have self-insight when our “self” is constructed so much from how others view us? Journaling can lead to greater self-awareness and insights into personal values, desires, and goals.
• Problem Solving. Got a problem? Your journal is a great place to solve it. Journaling provides a structured way to work through problems and develop effective solutions.
• Better Relationships. Journaling doesn’t just help you. It changes how you show up in the world. Understanding your own emotions and reactions helps you improve your interactions and relationships with others.

Why Writers Should Journal

Journaling is good for everyone. There seriously aren’t drawbacks other than it sometimes being uncomfortable to work through your own thoughts, emotions, and feelings. But, there are specific reasons journaling can be beneficial for writers. Yes, you read that correctly. Journaling is good for you personally and professionally.

Benefits of journaling for writers include:

• Enhancing Creativity. Journaling provides a space for free expression, helping writers explore new ideas without the pressure to edit as we go. We may even find inspiration or uncover ideas we want to use for other writing projects.
• Improving Writing Skills. Every writer knows that the best way to get better is to practice the craft. Journaling lets us experiment with different writing styles, tones, and techniques. Daily writing can also improve vocabulary, grammar, and overall writing fluency, although I don’t think we should put that kind of pressure on our journal entires.
• Providing an Emotional Outlet. As we discussed above, journaling can be a therapeutic tool. It can help us process our thoughts and emotions. It offers a private space to express feelings, which can lead to a better understanding of oneself and contribute to emotional well-being. This emotional clarity often translates into more authentic and impactful writing.
• Tracking Progress and Growth. A journal serves as a record of a writer’s journey. By reviewing past entries, we can see how our thoughts, ideas, and skills have evolved over time. This reflection can be motivating and provide a sense of accomplishment. We also may be able to recognize some writing quirks that we want to eliminate.
• Enhancing Focus and Organization. Writing down thoughts and ideas can help writers organize mental clutter. It can also aid in setting and tracking goals, planning projects, and managing time more effectively. This organized approach can lead to increased productivity and efficiency.
• Generating Ideas. I’ve never understood writers who don’t have a ton of ideas. I have more content ideas than I have time, but a lot of writers don’t. A journal can be a repository for ideas that you can reference later. This habit also ensures that no idea is lost or forgotten.
• Building Discipline. Writers can’t just write when we feel like it. If we only wrote when we were motivated to do so, not much would get written. Journaling can help instill this sense of discipline and commitment. It can strengthen our work ethic and build a routine that supports other writing projects.
• Allowing for Personal Reflection. Journaling encourages introspection and self-awareness. This personal reflection can only help us become deeper, more meaningful writers. 

Writing When You Don’t Want To

We’ve explored a lot of reasons why journaling is good for us as individuals and as writers. But what do you do when you don’t want to write? When you’ve had a long day of writing and the last thing you want to do is write some more, how do you motivate yourself to do it?

7 ways to convince yourself to journal when you don’t want to:

1. Have a Topic. Often, we avoid writing because we’re uncertain about what to write about. Having a idea of what to journal about can help motivate you when you don’t feel like writing.
2. Keep It Short. You don’t have to journal for a long time or write a ton. Give yourself permission to write briefly or jot a few things down. 
3. Combine It with a Pleasurable Activity. Make your journaling spot and the practice itself inviting. Whether sitting in a cozy chair with a favorite blanket or using a great pen, make it an activity you can enjoy.
4. Focus on the Benefits. Remind yourself of the benefits of journaling that we’ve reviewed in this post.
5. Don’t Strive for Perfection. Let go of any expectations of writing perfectly or profoundly. Just write.
6. Reward Yourself. If you’re struggling to make journaling a habit, consider setting up a reward system. For instance, after journaling for a week straight, treat yourself to something special, like a new pen. 
7. Don’t Write. If you really don’t feel like writing, don’t force it. There are lots of ways to get the benefits of journaling. Consider making a list, chart, or drawing instead.

It’s Time to Write!

If you’re anything like me, you’re almost always ready to write. But even when I don’t feel like writing, I never regret having done it. It’s kinda like exercise. I don’t want to do it, but I feel great after it’s done. When you don’t feel like journaling, remind yourself of all the benefits it gives you, both professionally and personally. Then sit down in your chair and put the pen to the paper.