You don’t need to buy the most expensive leather-bound journal in order to document your life. You just need a writing utensil, a notebook, and your mind.

I started keeping a journal after noticing many of my peers owned them. Ever since the day I purchased my own journal, I have been writing in it almost religiously. I’ve noticed the many benefits it has brought me, and how much fun it can be to write down anything you want whether you decided to share it with others or not. Below is a list of nine reasons you should keep a journal as well.

1. It relieves stress. Let’s face it, life can be frustrating at times. Whether you are going through a breakup, or you didn’t get the grade you expected on your exam; it’s always nice to have a healthy outlet like writing in a journal. Writing can help you escape from all the noise, even if it is just for a few moments. It's a great way to recalibrate yourself, and let out all your frustration in a judgement-free zone.
2. It exercises your creativity. You don’t have to be a literary prodigy to be creative, all you have to do is find your passion and expand on it. Everyone has the potential to be creative, but not everyone chooses to sharpen that part of their brain. Write a poem, describe the indescribable, create a new reality; whatever you choose to write about, just remember to always keep your pen moving. Oh, and don’t be afraid of being weird!
3. You can spill out your ideas. The average person has between 50,000 to 70,000 thoughts per day. If you sift through all those thoughts, you’re going to find at least a few golden nuggets. Or you could say screw it, and write anything that comes to your mind; no matter how stupid or random the idea may see at the time. Find a new perspective, take a step back to see the bigger picture, or turn the world on its head.
4. You can write about your accomplishments. It’s okay to pat yourself on the back sometimes, you owe it to yourself, you’re awesome! Preserve the feelings you had at your highest point, you never know when you might need a reminder of how great you truly are. Writing down your accomplishments can help you keep track of your progress in anything; whether it’s fitness goals, school, financial goals, etc.
5. You can write about how to improve. Maybe you didn’t have such a great day after all. It’s okay, just make sure tomorrow is a better day. How are you going to make sure tomorrow is a better day, you ask? By writing down the areas you need to improve on in your journal of course! Write down what you learned from your mistakes, and figure out a plan of action to seek a more favorable outcome next time. Hold yourself accountable for your own personal development, and use your journal to write down your own rules.
6. You can do more than just write. You don’t only have to write in your journal, there are various other things you can incorporate as well. You can sketch a new superhero concept, rub some dirt in it, or clip in a ticket stub from the premiere of your favorite movie. Just as art does not exist in one form, there are numerous ways to express yourself in your journal. Your journal should be organic and tailored to your personality, so explore as many options as you can to find what works best for you.
7. You can keep your favorite quotes. If you are feeling low, or you are in need of a few quick words of wisdom, you can turn to your repertoire of inspirational quotes. What? You don’t have one? Well, you would if you kept a journal. It’s a good idea to save your favorite witty, sassy, or downright hilarious quotes from people you find inspirational. Keep your favorite quotes written down, and share them with anyone.
8. You can look back at your memories. Sure, you may have a vivid memory of an event, but remembering every detail as if it just happened is unlikely. We humans are unique because we have the ability to document our lives, linking us to our pasts. Preserve your memories, both good and bad; they are a part of you and they will be with you forever. You never know when you might look back at something you wrote a year ago and laugh. Maybe you were naive in the past, or maybe you made better decisions back then. Your memories are unique, so you should treasure them.
9. You can understand yourself. It’s nice to talk to other people, and by no means am I telling you to sever all human contact, but only you understand the inner workings of your mind better than anyone else. Your mind is occupied only by you, and although others may have similar thoughts or emotions. Only you can understand what it is like to be in your head. Your mind is unique, so write down your thoughts, even if you are the only one that understands them.

Let loose, be creative, but don't be scared to have one, because a journal is just an extension of who you are, and you should never be ashamed to do that.