Some people might shy away from the idea of keeping a journal – how can the activity most associated with heartbroken teenagers really benefit someone in their adult, everyday life? Well, you’d be surprised and whilst not all of us believe we have anything worth writing about, journaling can benefit nearly everyone.

You don’t have to be a closet novelist or have a life story worthy of an autobiography – the fact is we all have pressures, emotions and situations that can take some mental unravelling and keeping a journal can help us do just that.

Here are just a few of the reasons why I think journaling is invaluable.

It forces you to take time out

Committing to writing in a journal each day forces you to sit down and reflect. Whilst some people will always be more comfortable writing at a computer, I really favour traditional pen and paper. We spend so much time in front of our computers or televisions, with or around other people that there’s always something going on to distract us, so by resolving to spend half an hour each day to write in a journal we are purposefully taking ourselves away from all the noise that comes with life. If you really don’t like the idea of using a pen and paper find somewhere quiet and disconnect from the internet. Journaling is most beneficial when it is just you and your journal. Continue Reading

Nowadays we all seem to be so programmed to only give something to others if we receive something back. The act of helping others just for the sake of it has become a rare one and the desire to behave in this way an elusive quality to find in many people. In fact, many of us see those who help others as ‘do gooders’ but think about it – isn’t it a sad place to be in when we actually start looking at people who dedicate some of their time to others in a negative light?

What a lot of us don’t realise is that taking some time to help others not only helps them but also ourselves. And we’re not just talking about that warm feeling you get or the good karma you can expect to come your way. There is actual scientific evidence that shows there are benefits to helping others such as making us happier and even lengthening our life span. Hard to believe? Research has shown that those who volunteer demonstrate and improved ability to deal with stress, reduced rates of depression and even a decrease in physical illness. Continue Reading