Journal Through a Pandemic - Be Inspired Counseling & Consulting

When you’re stuck at home during a pandemic, where does your time go?

A recent statistic stated the average number of hours Americans are streaming videos through mediums such as Netflix, Hulu, or YouTube is approximately 8 hours a day. Think about that for a moment: 8 hours a day! Kind of shocking right? In fact, Netflix added 15.77 million more subscribers globally this quarter, many of them added after the onset of quarantine.

During this time it’s important to spend time unwinding. If streaming the latest video series helps you do that, then that’s okay. However, if you are feeling stressed, overwhelmed, anxious, or depressed, streaming shows can become a way to avoid uncomfortable feelings instead of facing them. In a crisis, it’s important to take time to reflect on your thoughts, feelings, and life as a whole to figure out what you want your life to look like now and when this crisis resolves.

Journaling is a great way to reflect on what is going on in your life right now. I want to encourage you to take time to set down the device and pick up the pen, and here’s why.

Why journaling

Journaling is a perfect tool to help you get your thoughts on paper and increase your awareness of what you are actually thinking. Many times our thoughts can be like an intersecting highway with multiple lanes going in various directions. Being able to put your thoughts on paper helps you organize them allowing you to gain clarity as to what thoughts may be contributing to certain feelings you may be having. It also helps you get clear on the things in your life you don’t like to find solutions for change.

The benefits of journaling through a pandemic

Oftentimes we feel a certain way but may not know exactly why we feel the way we do. In the wake of our current global crisis, a lot has happened in a short amount of time. For many of us, our brains are still trying to catch up to our current reality. Journaling can help bring your thoughts to the present moment. It can also help you identify which thoughts you should be focusing on. Our thoughts influence our emotions, attitudes, actions, and future. Therefore, it’s important to become aware of what you are thinking. At this time there are many things outside of our control. If you can sort through and identify what is in your control then your focus and energy can be directed towards things within your power.

Now, more than ever, it’s important to pay attention to how you are feeling. Journaling can support your mental health by allowing you to gain a new perspective. Instead of bottling thoughts and feelings, you can let them out on paper. Then, you can step back and figure out which thoughts you want to choose to allow in your headspace and which ones you want to reject or dismiss.

How to start a journaling practice

Set aside time to be able to journal. This could be in the morning, evening, or during a certain time of day. Find a place free of distractions where you can focus your mind and allow your thoughts to flow out onto the paper. Find a comfortable place where you can let your defenses down. And get to writing. It may be hard at first to just sit quietly and devote the time and energy to journal what you are thinking or feeling, but the more you do it the easier it becomes.

Journal prompts to get started

During this time one of the things I encourage people to journal about is to think about what is important to them. When the whole world shifts, it is important to identify what is important to you and why. Reassessing your priorities will allow you to say no to the things that aren’t a priority which reduces stress. Journal what is going right versus just what’s going wrong. And, take time to reflect on the things you are grateful for.

Here are just a few suggestions to get you started:

What is going right in my life right now?
What am I struggling with? What emotions am I experiencing? Why?
Who do I want to become?
What is giving me energy or stealing my energy?
What do I need, love, or appreciate?
What do I want my life to look like after this pandemic is over?

I believe if you can spend some of this time reflecting through journaling while also getting clear of what you want your life to look like it will help you not only get through this pandemic, but it will also help you thrive when we get to the other side.

Christy Pennison, LPC-S, is a therapist in Alexandria, LA. She owns Be Inspired Counseling & Consulting whose mission is to inspire hope for change. As a speaker and advocate for mental health awareness and self-care, she is passionate about helping individuals move forward and live fully.