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Instant Stress Management Articles |
Journaling to Manage
Stress By Vishal P. Rao Guest Article |
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Stress has become a
reality of life for many people today. Our lifestyle today has led us to a
situation that millions suffer from stress related physiological problems.
Stress can cause ulcers, high blood pressure, migraine headaches and much
more if it is not addressed and managed properly. Managing stress by
opting for quick remedies like anti depressants and mood elevators will
not prove beneficial in the long run since each of these medicine
categories have side effects that can be equally difficult to manage. Mild
stress can be handled in a much more amiable manner if you do your
research well and explore the various options available. Among the
alternative options like herbal therapies, acupuncture, meditation,
breathing exercises and the like, journaling is the one that is the
easiest to start. Journaling refers to the practice of maintaining a diary
or a journal where you can write what you feel like. It is a simple method
in which you can enter your thoughts, ideas, emotions, feelings and even
grievances without worrying about anything.
Each one of us would
have faced a situation where recounting a stressful incident to a friend
or relative makes us feel lighter and more relaxed. Once the initial
emotional surge has been achieved, thinking of the problem at hand and
solving it becomes relatively easier and less taxing. However, it is not
always that we can find that soul mate who we can share everything with.
You may feel that you will be judged about the manner in which you feel
about a certain incident or a situation. At times, some thoughts are so
personal that you cannot make yourself share it with anyone. Journaling is
one option that allows you to share your thoughts without any of these
issues. In most cases,
journaling also helps in clarifying your own thoughts. If you are confused
about something and want to sort it out in your own head, putting the
thoughts on paper can help you clarify what you are feeling. It can
provide that cathartic experience that can help you get rid of your
negative thoughts and feelings towards an object or another person. In
addition to this journaling is a practice that involves both hemispheres
of the brain. It is a creative process of writing combined with the
rational thinking process that make journaling as effective as it has
proven to be. It has been
scientifically proven that journaling helps in improving cognition,
strengthen s the immune system and allows you to feel more relaxed during
periods of stress. It is important that
you appreciate that journaling is not like writing a book or an
autobiography. It is merely putting your thoughts and feelings on paper.
It does not matter whether you have the grammar right or whether your
thoughts flow in a logical manner or not. What is essential in the
journaling process is that you let yourself go without consciously
thinking about what you want to write in the journal and what you must not
put down. Holding back takes away a fair amount of the benefits of the
cathartic journaling process. You
can actually choose to write anything. However, if you find that getting
started is a problem you could write about your desires, dreams, your
childhood experiences, what you would like to do in the next couple of
years, you r thoughts about a specific topic, what you would do if you had
three wishes and many such aspects. Another way in which you can get
started is by thinking through what happened in the day and jotting down
what you felt about those incidents. Make sure that you don’t resort to
just recounting the incident. Your feelings about the occurrence are more
important than the incident itself. One of the key
advantages of journaling is that almost anyone who can write can use this
technique to his advantage. All one needs is a pen and some paper to write
on. Journaling does not require extensive practice like meditation or yoga
where you need to be physically adept at carrying out the exercises. Getting started with
the journaling process requires you to commit about ten to twenty minutes
a day. You can choose to write your journal in a book or choose to
maintain a journal on the computer. If you opt for the pen and paper
option, make sure that you choose a journal you like so that you feel like
writing in it every day. Set aside a time for journaling each day. The end
of the day, before you actually go to bed is considered as the best time
for such an activity by many. Vishal
P. Rao heads the Stress
Management Forum
where you can get free advice and tips for managing stress.
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