Journaling 101

Journaling is a simple yet powerful tool that supports mental, emotional, and academic well-being. By setting aside a few minutes each day to write, you can process complex emotions, reduce stress, and gain clarity during times of change or pressure. Journaling helps you organize your thoughts, reflect on your goals, and make sense of your college experience. It also builds self-awareness, resilience, and confidence—important traits for personal and academic success. Whether it's used to manage anxiety, track progress, or express gratitude, journaling empowers you understand yourself and stay grounded during your college journey.

For some, it can be difficult to know where to begin when journaling. If you find yourself, struggling to know how to start, considering the following suggestions. 

1. Remove all expectations and start small.
   1. Reflect on your day, write about something that caused you to pause, smile or that you don’t want to forget
   2. Don’t feel that you must write more than one line.
   3. Writing just one thought down is of value
2. Identify how you want to journal.
   1. Do you prefer to use a paper journal and pen
   2. Or are you more comfortable using a computer, your phone, or a journaling app?  
3. Journaling is more than just taking account of your day.
   1. Reflect on your interactions with others or how the events of the day made you feel.
   2. Write about something that you learned during the day or would like to learn because of your day.
   3. If you are worried about something, write about it, explore why it has you worried.  
4. Take time to read and reflect on what you have written from time to time.
   1. By documenting how you feel in various moments, it can help to show personal growth over time.  
   2. Life will always consist of ups and downs, and journaling can help to show you have you navigated both.

If you would like to learn more about journaling check out Counseling and Psychological Services Therapeutic Journaling Workshop