How You Journalin’?

(now read again in your best Wendy Williams voice)

I read books. I mean often…daily. So far this year, and I don’t mean a calendar year, I mean in the year 2020, I have read over 80 books. So yea, I read. I realized last year that more than being a bookworm, I am likely a book snob. This realization hit me during a conversation with my best friend, who also happens to be a voracious reader (not the only thing we have in common). We literally started a book club, in which only we are the only members. Anyway, I digress. Last year sometime my best friend told me she listened to audiobooks (insert gasp, disgusted lip curl, and stank eye). We engaged in an intense conversation about how that is cheating, and the conversation ended with me questioning our friendship (not really, but I was legit confused). At this point, I am sure you are wondering what this post has to do with journaling.

Well, in an interview with POPSUGAR, I acknowledged that journaling could be seen as “a daunting task” especially since people tend to think their entries have to be a certain length.  Since that interview, when recommending journaling, I have gotten responses such as “I don’t like writing,” or “I’m not much of a writer.” Insert my conversation with my best friend. For those who don’t enjoy writing, I urge you to consider an audio journal.

There are many perks to choosing an audio journal including accessibility.  Although you can purchase a voice recorder, phones are equipped with the ability to record, store, and secure it on your phone.  Furthermore, the burden of having to remember something that happened during the day to journal about is removed, as we tend to carry our phones with us all the time.  I know for me, sometimes a thought might cross my mind during the day and I don’t have access to a pen and paper to write it down. Using an audio journal, I could easily record my thoughts. Lastly, an audio journal gives us the perfect excuse to talk to ourselves, and there is something powerful in listening to your own voice.

Whether you choose to do a written journal or an audio journal, it is important to have an outlet to release your thoughts. Thoughts are powerful and influence our emotions and behaviors, which impacts our relationships with ourselves, others, and the environment. A journal is a place to release thoughts that are not beneficial, highlight insights gained, and is a useful tool to measure progress over time. And if that wasn’t enough, it happens to be one of my favorite tools! I encourage you to start a journal today.