In a world where most of us are glued to our devices, journaling feels like a lost art — one of those things people say helps but rarely commit to. According to Kaiser Permanente, “From scientists to artists — and everyone in between — keeping a journal can be an important self-care practice.” So, for seven days, we at Amador Valley Today set down our phones and turned to a blank notebook, eager to see if filling a page with our thoughts had hidden benefits.
1. Improved Memory
One benefit we noticed is that it was easier to recall information from days prior when we took the time to write down the events of the day. It can be easy sometimes for days to blur together, especially in times of stress. Journaling, however, made it easier to stay organized and be more conscious of time.
2. Beneficial for Writers
Many famous writers, from Franz Kafka to Mary Shelley to Alison Bechdel have journaled. One look through the diary of Mary Shelley will show both details of her life and small fragments of short stories and the beginnings of her magnum opus, Frankenstein. Bechdel kept a diary most of her childhood and used it when reflecting on her childhood in many of her famous works. It not only serves as a good place to jot down story ideas, but to preserve memories for future reference, both artistically and personally — which leads into the next benefit.
3. Preserving memories
Whether you use those memories preserved in a diary to write an award winning comic like Bechdel, or just to make them easier to remember, it’s nice to have a physical place to put your memories. For example, my (Marinn’s) mother kept a scrapbook in her childhood, and on many occasions I have enjoyed looking through pages both of accomplishments like graduation or of her fangirling over early 90s boy bands. Additionally, journaling has helped me (Rebecca) to better understand how my younger self thought. I stumbled across a few old diaries and laughed at the entries complaining about my younger sister’s antics.
4. Stress Reduction
We tried to journal twice a day: one in the morning and one in the evening. We found that we could go to bed more peacefully because we were able to clear our minds before going to sleep. Writing down how we were feeling, what was going through our heads, or any miscellaneous ideas that were nagging at us. We could then put them to bed, making them an issue for tomorrow.
Even if you don’t want the commitment of writing a whole journal entry each day like we did this week, consider simply writing down one sentence a day. If you want an even more portable option, consider journaling digitally, using an app like Daylio to track your mood and thoughts day by day. Journaling is meant to be a practice for you to benefit from, so make sure your method is something you feel is achievable.
In the end, whether you’re scribbling in a notebook or typing into an app, journaling isn’t about perfection — it’s about being present, and experiencing the quiet clarity that comes from simply listening to yourself for a moment each day.
