What journaling can do for your mental health and how to start writing as a busy mom.
Disclaimer: This post is for information purposes only. Consult your physician, phsychologist or phsychiatrist if you deal with any mental troubles you need to address. This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission from purchases you make through these links at no extra cost to you.
Journaling has always been a part of my life. I started writing down my feelings, emotions, or random thoughts about my day ever since I was a little girl. And, after motherhood came into place, I dove deeper once I realized the importance of journaling for moms.
There was something soothing about putting my emotions on paper. And even more important, to revisit those feelings later in life when I needed some perspective.
RELATED: Self Care For Busy Moms: 10 Ideas For An Even Better You
The Benefits Of Journaling For Moms (and everyone else)
I loved this list of benefits described by The University Of Manchester, and it aligned with what I also heard from my own therapist when I was a teenager. Some of the benefits are:
- Manage anxiety
- Reduce stress
- Help you prioritize fears and concerns
- Identify negative thoughts and behaviors, and provide an opportunity for positive self-talk
- Track any negative symptoms so that you can recognize triggers and learn to control them better.
How I keep 4 journals in my busy routine
Yes, I manage and keep four journals simultaneously! And no… you definitely do not need to do that!
I’m very used to journaling as I’ve been doing it for over 20 years now. So, for me, it’s almost like an automatic activity. But if you are starting out, keeping even one can seem overwhelming at first, and that is not the goal.
I keep four journals for different purposes:
– My Personal Journal (I use these because they’re light, small, and I can carry it in my bag wherever I go. It’s also absolutely beautiful and I love the feeling of writting on a pretty notebook).
In this journal, I write all my personal feelings and thoughts daily (or almost daily, hehe). What I’m going through that day, something exciting that happened, or things that upset me – it’s all there.
I also include, sometimes, things to make me remember a specific moment. A dried-up flower, a receipt from a store, a cute card from my in-laws… anything that means something to me, as long as it fits on the page.
I even have a small zip lock bag filled with dirt from the outside of mine and my husband’s first home together. Silly, but brings me so many amazing feelings when I see it!
– My Prayer Journal
This is where I write down my prayers and/or thoughts after my devotionals. I don’t write every day (although I do pray and have devotionals daily), only about 2-3 times a week.
It’s very important to me to keep this up because, in my life, it’s sometimes unbelievable to think of where I came from and where God has brought me.
My prayer book is a big part of who I am and of how amazing it is to see what God has done for me. So I am very intentional about writing on this journal as often as possible.
– My Daughter‘s and My Son‘s Journals
I keep a journal for each of my kids, with the intention of giving it to them once they turn 18. It’s one of the things that I am most excited about!
I write on their journals once or twice a month, or if something important happens (like a milestone is achieved) – and usually, when I do, I get so carried away that I end up filling multiple pages!
I started writing for them when I got pregnant, and I narrate any important facts or feelings I’m having at that moment.
The first time they opened their eyes after birth, my emotions during the baby blues phase, or when they took their first steps, their first word… it’s all in there.
Along with a description of what that made me feel. I also am intentional about sharing learnings and things that I think will help them later on.
Although very personal, I want to share with you a couple of phrases I wrote for my daughter about a year ago. It goes somewhat like this:
“Today I was thinking of the events that lead me here.
I started thinking of all the time I wasted doing the wrong things, hanging with the wrong people, and not appreciating the gift of my own intelligence and discernment. And it made me nervous to think that, as you are reading this, you are now a young adult who will also be making mistakes in life.
At the same time that it scares me, it also gives me peace knowing that:
1. you will always have a family who’s got your back through every stage of your life.
2. you are precious to Jesus and He will be leading you if you let Him.
3… I believe in you, and know you will learn from your mistakes and make the best out of them.
I say this because, in life, I cannot think you’ll always get everything perfect, as much as I would do anything for that to happen. But I also know that you know how loved you are, how important and precious you are, and I hope you will cling to that fact when things get rough”.
How you can keep up with a journal as busy mom and the importance of journaling for moms
I know what you are thinking… life is busy already! Sometimes, it’s hard to even find time in the day to brush out teeth.
I completely agree. Momming is not a walk in the park and we have so much on our plate already.
But, I am a big believer in self-care. Honestly, I don’t know how to be a mother without prioritizing my mental health and the things that feed my soul.
There is a saying that I love, that says “I cannot take care of my kids’ thirst if my cup is empty”. And that’s what I think of when I think about journaling.
It not only puts my entire life in perspective but it is also something that I love doing. And, something that I love doing should absolutely be given a time in my day.
So, here’s a few tips if you are starting out:
First week: one paragraph every morning for 7 days.
I’m sure you can find a way to write one paragraph. Maybe while you wait for your coffee to come out, or while your kid’s water cup is filling up. A sentence takes less than 30 seconds, and it has the power to get you into the habit of journaling.
It doesn’t need to be complicated or “deep” starting out. Something like “I didn’t sleep well last night, and that made me feel angry. I hope the rest of the day goes better” is more than enough for your first week.
Second week: start writing half a page for another 7 days.
I promise you: once you can write one paragraph a day, writing half a page will feel like nothing.
An idea of how you can do this is: once you get your kids’ breakfast ready, sit them at their high chair and write half a page while they eat.
Don’t worry, you will still have plenty of time left to enjoy breakfast with them. Once you start writing half a page, you will notice how quick it becomes putting your thoughts on paper.
Even though the goal with journaling is taking the time alone to dive into your feelings, we are just easing you into the habit for now. So writing while your kids are around is okay.
Third week: half a page, away from the kids.
Now that you have been journaling for two weeks, you might find it easier to find the time to write away from the kids.
Keep on focusing on half a page every day since it is faster. If you can do more, great! But if you can’t, don’t get discouraged.
A good way to do this is, if your kids are old enough, to sneak the writing in the first few minutes of their shower or bath. If you have babies who are not old enough to be in the bath without supervision, you can also do this during their first morning nap.
Yes… I know the first nap is when we get things done. There’s a whole kitchen to clean, floors to mop post-breakfast, or laundry to get in…
But, just as those daily chores are important, your peace of mind is too. Do the half pages even if you have tasks. You will still have time left.
Fourth Week: One page, away from the kids.
I am very confident to say that, at this point, you will be able to write more than one page every day. But if you don’t, again, don’t get discouraged. Writing one page every day can be more than enough to get some peace of mind.
Right now I believe you have found the time in the day that works best for you. I personally like to write early in the morning, because it helps me start my day with a good mindset.
But if later works better with your routine, do that! The important thing is to keep on journaling.