Every night, for the past five years, whether I am in the mood to or not, I write in a journal - in fact, I just began my seventh journal the other month. Whenever this factoid comes up in casual discussion, I always receive a response somewhere along the lines of: ‘wow, that’s so good. I wish I could do that, but I just can’t’ or ‘I tried doing that but it only lasted a day’. However, it doesn’t have to be this way. For me, I find journaling to be very therapeutic. Quite honestly, I believe that everyone should do it. Here is why:

Journaling puts things into perspective

If there’s one thing writing daily has taught me, it’s that sometimes, my problems aren’t as big as I make them out to be. Reading back, I went from freaking out about failing honors chemistry my sophomore year, to freaking out about where I want to go to college my senior year, to freaking out about being in a foreign country post-high school. Although there are most definitely bigger problems occurring in the world right now, journaling has taught me that life has its weird ways of working out and that no matter how bad things may seem, eventually it will all fall into place.

Journaling releases stress

If you are ever feeling stressed, angry, or sad about something, I feel strongly that the last place you should put your feelings is social media. Whenever I am feeling distraught, I write out how I feel. It is often therapeutic, and after it feels as if some of those feelings have been lifted off my shoulders. This can also prevent you from saying something you might regret to someone. Write down your feelings, and from there, figure out what you can do to solve your situation. I have found that writing out my emotions not only teaches me more about myself but also serves as a good resource to look back on in the future whenever I am feeling distraught.

Journaling helps with mental health

Two medical reviewers from the University of Rochester Medical Center found that journaling is good for mental health. It aids in releasing stress (as stated above), managing anxiety, and coping with depression. In doing so, you are able to recognize possible symptoms and can then learn how to control them, you can prioritize your problems, and it serves as a platform for positive self-reflection.

Journaling is dope

For the lack of a better word, journaling really is dope. In seven tiny journals, I have some of the best (and worst) times of my life documented. From seeing a relationship pan out from beginning to end, dealing with hardships such as the passing of a loved one - to more positive entries such as meeting some certain individuals who are now my best friends, traveling to foreign places, or even just having an especially good day. All of these memories are documented, and while they are mainly for me, they are also for future generations to come. It’s as if I am adding onto my autobiography each and every day.

All in all, this is why I write in a journal every day - and you should too. Buy a journal, set aside a few minutes every day, and just

write. Write about anything; how your day went, what your goals are, that cute dog you saw at the park, that cute boy in your class, anything. You will truly be surprised how accurate the quote “everything happens for a reason” is. Happy writings!