Keeping A Journal

Keeping a journal has been a habit of people, for centuries. It has been a major source of information regarding the historical figures, places and events. Whether it was Abraham Lincoln, HuenTsang or Captain Cook, their personal accounts helped Historians immensely.

But in the modern times, journals can prove to be useful in many other facets of life.

Pour out your thoughts Source

To plan ahead

Keeping a journal can help an individual in becoming more organized and to plan ahead. In today’s busy lives, there are many things that we need to remember; however, it is often not possible for people to remember all the appointments, meetings or to keep a track of the things they need to do. If we write about it, it stays on our mind; moreover, we can also check, these events, when in doubt.

For self-introspection

Maintaining a diary also helps in self analysis and introspection. It also helps in improving upon different aspects of one’s character, habits and routine. While you write about the accounts of the day, or your thoughts about something in specific, your brain starts to analyze, calculate and turn in possible solutions. After writing the events, it is also necessary to go through the account once again. This triggers our critical thinking capabilities and we can think about the solutions to the problem, or to brainstorm new ideas by thinking in a second person’s point of view.

Many a times we get stuck in a line of thought and it gets very confusing and at times a cul-de-sac. While putting it in a journal, these thoughts become more organized and start following a pattern. This often helps in sorting the problem in a manner, flow charts work; one step at a time.
For Emotional Venting

During times of immense emotional upheavals, whether it is about a love interest or workload, or any crisis, it helps to project the emotions, dramatically. It has been found out, that projecting or venting out the emotions, in the form of writing or verbally describing it to someone, makes one more relaxedeven if it bears no solution, at times. Actually, it is just a placebo, to take out the worries through a physical medium, taking it out of the system.

For keeping a record of major and minor events

Whether it is a big event, like getting a job, or a small one like a funny incident that had happened with friends. The Journal accepts it, without any bias. It is a great way to go back in time and revisit the memory lane. Something like Dumbledore’s pensieve, which he used to go back in time, to verify facts or to revisit the incidents happened in the past. Many a times, revisiting your past, through journals help you get solutions to present problems.

Journal Source

To polish writing skills

By writing every day, slowly you are polishing your writing skills and making it richer. Let’s say, a term you came across, it gets added to your vocabulary, if you pen them down. By writing and seeing them on the paper/screen, your brain works double to memorise it. It also makes sure; you develop a style after a certain point, and experiment with different styles of writing.

Dream Diaries

Maintaining a journal can also help you remember your dreams. It might help you in psychoanalyzing your state of mind, through the dreams. It also brings out your creative side, as dreams are generally very crafty and creative.

The significance of penning thoughts downSource

There is also a certain fixation about the dreams we see, as it reveals a personal side of us, which we are actively not aware of. Also, writing them down is beneficial, because, some dreams might not fascinate others, but since you had been a witness to it, it fascinates you. So a private hobby is what a dream diary can prove to be.

There are various ways, through which you can keep accounts of your thoughts and events. Some prefer blogs or video logs, while others are more oldschool and prefer pen and paper. In my personal opinion, Pen and paper is a better option, as it is easier, and creates impressions better.