Keeping a journal can create an emotional release. But it can also help create physical healing. Because whatever goes on in your mind has a direct impact on your internal organs. Want better digestion? Less severe seasonal allergies? Trying to drop those last 10 (or more) pounds? Journal writing can be as influential as what you eat, the supplements you take or what you put on your body.
Emotions create a physical reaction. And journaling can help the body let go physically as well as emotionally. And this has a ripple effect through your entire health system.
Want to be skinny, sexy and stress-free? Here are 5 ways that writing in a journal will help get you there.
Writing in a journal can reduce the rumble in your tummy.
The act of worry can kill the good bacteria in your gut. And when this happens, you become prone to all sorts of digestive disturbances. A proper balance of beneficial bacteria is vital not only for a healthy gut, but for the well-being of your entire body.
By working through your worries on the page, you support the beneficial bacteria in your gut. And that is a win-win for your mind and your body.
Journaling releases trapped feelings that cause inflammation
When you harbor locked emotions, these feelings drain your physical body. And the long-term response to this is wide-spread internal inflammation. And trust me, this is not a good thing.
Inflammation is the predecessor to all disease states like heart disease, autoimmune diseases and cancer. Negative emotions make physical changes on your body. Working through your emotions on the page will help you release your hurt and negativity. And this will help you ease inflammation and make your body a disease fighting machine!
This then helps you grow your emotional intelligence. Which means next time you confront emotional discomfort, you’ll be able to process and release the negative feelings faster.
Journal writing can improve your fat burning capabilities
Through much of our day, we’re just reacting without reflecting. And this persistent reaction often puts our bodies into what is called the fight or flight response. This response exhibited in our ancient ancestors only during times of life or death. Let’s say ancient man bumbled into a bear. He had to quickly decide whether to run for his life, or stay and fight.
The hormones released during fight or flight flood the body with fat storing hormones. Which doesn’t have much of an impact on weight during a rare bear encounter. But it is very problematic when experienced daily. And modern stress is abundant, triggering the fight or flight response from non-life-threatening problems like troubles at work, stress with the kids, aging parents and more.
Taking a few moments to reflect and take ourselves our of our reaction will lower our levels of fat-storing hormones. Which can lead to a slimmer waistline and a sexier outlook on life.
Expressing gratitude helps you to make positive choices in your life
Gratitude journals leave an impact. When you express gratitude, you support happiness. And in doing so, you encourage the release of feel-good hormones in your body like dopamine and serotonin.
Feelings of joy are addictive. So not only are you more likely to make more positive decisions that create more health and happiness. But your body will relax. Your skin will glow. And you’ll lose the bloat as happiness reaches your internal organs. And this, in turn, can lead to a sense of relief, and an even further release of these feel good hormones. The more you practice expressing gratitude, the more this cycle of joy will continue and the more your health will benefit.
Journaling increases your communication skills and builds your brain.
Writing is a skill which must be practiced. And while writing on a daily basis increases your communication skills, it isn’t just your lingual abilities that will grow.
As you learn and improve, you create new connections in your brain. Which doesn’t just make you more intelligent in the now. It can make your brain stronger for the future. So that your mind stays younger and less prone to things like dementia and everyday forgetfulness.
So there you have it
Journal writing isn’t just for hippies who like to dwell on their emotions. It is for all people who want to live stronger, happier lives. Journal writing, when done on a regular basis, can support real healing. And that can leave you skinnier, sexier, more stress-free and ready to take on the world!
Am always grateful even if it’s a small thing that nobody notices. Say a silent thank you even when a light changes to green and I save time. Am sure it’s correct that writing a journal benefits us in all kinds of ways but I simply don’t have the time to do that as well as meditating and yoga. Today I actually wrote a draft of a rhetorical analysis of one politicians speeches. For me it’s vital to be intellectually and mentally stimulated. Am sure it benefits my health as well because it makes me feel good. Probably on par with writing a journal.
I love the idea to write in a journal. We get so stressed and stressed eating is very common. I will try to do this more often and see if it helps with my stress. Thanks for sharing.
I used to keep a daily journal from 2006-2013. I’m kinda sad that I don’t really keep a journal anymore, but I like to think of my blog as my personal journal, even though I can’t write in it as often as I want to due to busy schedule. But I do agree with what you’ve said, writing down your thoughts and feelings can be so cathartic and it always makes me feel better about whatever trouble/problem I’m facing.
I kept a diary as teenager. I do not recall writing anything deep, just the trials of being a teen.
Writing a journal takes dedication and authenticity. Whether anyone else will read it or not it should be an expression of you.
I’ve written in a journal ever since my aunt got me one for Christmas in maybe third or fourth grade. I go in waves where I journal more and then less. I’ve kept an electronic journal since the start of my junior year of high school. My average tends to be once a week, though I’ve averaged 2-3 entries a week in the past couple of years since my divorce. When skim back through the entries, I’ve realized when I was having the most trying times because I wouldn’t write in my journal at all for months on end. That’s when I’m not ready to listen to myself or really figure things out. A good writer is indeed a good thinker and therefore more capable of being in control of various aspects of their lives.
I have kept a journal regularly since I was 18 years old and that’s a lot of years ago. I’m slim but can’t claim to be sexy or stress-free! I will certainly agree with you, for myself though, that journal writing has enhanced my communication skills and built my brain. It has helped my personal/spiritual development in incalculable ways. Dealing with multiple traumas, I have found my journal to be a life saver, in addition to being a sanity saver. For anyone committed to developing deep self-awareness, there’s likely nothing better than journal writing. It’s a fascinating business to see one’s own life, inner world and all, recorded in one’s own hand from years past.
I haven’t kept a regular, daily journal in many years. My need for it seems to ebb and flow. When I need to do a brain-dump, I pop over to my journal and let it all out. At your prompting (and I think Marquita) last year I started to write a nightly gratitude journal. Occasionally I may vent about something, but I spend most of those pages writing my prayers for people or the blessings that I encountered during the day. There are times my gratitude can be as basic as: eyes that see, ears that hear, arms and legs that get me where I want to go.
And some days that is a lot to be thankful for.
Great post, Erica.
Yes, writing is a great stress buster! I have felt this personally.
From the day i have started my blog I have experienced various psychological changes (for good).
The ability to pen down your emotions gives a peaceful and positive feeling.
I don’t know about the “sexy” thing, but I’m a life-long fan of journaling for personal growth. It really is a wonderful habit to get into and can benefit us in so many ways.
Hi Erica. I do have a success journal that I write in occasionally, to remind me of any achievements I havre made. It’s also a good way to remind ourselves to stay positive when we need some extra encouragement.
Never thought that journal writing can help me shed those few extra pounds, I have used as journal writing for emotional realse which helps me keep me on track. Will definitely give it a try. Thanks for sharing!
Is there anything a journal can’t do? It seems many people from different professions and points of view recommend writing a journal. I started to put ideas and attitudes I am feeling, to add for future stories I write. I am glad it can help in dieting too.
I love this idea as well. Honestly I started a journal but it did not work out. I have to restart this habit
I have a little suggestion for those who may be inclined to take up Erica’s journaling recommendation. As often as time permits, recap the day’s events in your journal and try to do so in an amusing and cheeky way so that at a later point you can look back and have a laugh at what happened. Putting yourself in a good mood ought to count as a ‘mind and body benefit’, yes?
I’ve honestly never written a journal, but the more I look back on my goals, they have been written and I tend to succeed with those more than other ones that were less focused; if it could make me skinny and sexy at the same time then that’s a double benefit 😉 Great piece to read, thanks for taking the time to write and share it.
I journal off and on. My need for it varies. I do appreciate the value when I get into the habit. It helps focus, get rid of worries, and improves creativity. It hasn’t helped with weight loss though.