Explore the Power of Journaling for Stress Awareness Month

Take some time out to write down your thoughts during Stress Awareness Month.

Whether your personal life is getting on top of you, or you are struggling to juggle the demands of work or children, sometimes life can get the better of us all.

Stress Awareness Month has been celebrated every April since 1992 to open a dialogue about the implications of stress on the mind and body, as well as provide people with tips and tricks on how to deal with it.

Although a little bit of stress now and again is normal, it pays to be aware of some of the harmful physical stress related symptoms which may include: headaches, muscle tension, digestive issues, sleep disturbances, dizziness/fainting, cardiovascular issues or even a weakened immune system

If you are experiencing any of these we would encourage you to seek help from a professional. But stress also brings with it a myriad of emotional and behavioural symptoms which we’re going to provide you with tips to manage today.

It may not seem like it, but sometimes the simplest solutions can make a big difference. In our digital world, people tend to forget about the power of putting pen to paper. We’re so focused on social media and staying online that the power of a good notebook and pen is easily forgotten.

This Stress Awareness Month, we encourage you to try and put pen to paper to help you manage your stress loads or any difficult feelings you might be going through. Sometimes the simple act of writing something down can help your mind feel less full and heavy. Psychologists and therapists often recommend journaling as a tool to encourage self-awareness and promote mental clarity, so it may just help you manage some of the stress you are feeling.

If you’re not sure of where to start or find yourself staring at a blank page for far too long, here are some useful prompts that can start you off:

1. Write down one kind or supportive thing you can say to yourself
2. Ask yourself: what is making me feel anxious today?
3. Ask yourself: what am I grateful for today?
4. Free writing - simply write down everything in your head
5. Write a letter to your younger self
6. Write down today’s small wins
7. Write down something you learnt today
8. Write down a list of things that make you happy
9. Describe your perfect relaxing evening or day out
10. Name 5 things that cause you the most stress

Whether these journaling prompts help you reflect, give you the time to pause, or even help rationalise what you’re going through, we’d recommend giving paper a try if you are feeling more stressed than normal. Not only does journaling force you away from the screens, but it can also help you gain a new perspective as you shift your focus or discover how to process things that have been building up in your head.

Don’t let the feelings of stress pile up. So try writing things down, or even journaling how you feel. This doesn’t have to be seen by anyone and can even be recycled after you’ve finished - for the ultimate cathartic release!

If you’re feeling inspired to give journaling a go, we have a huge range of Notebooks & Notepads to choose from, and an array of Pens and Pencils to give you the tools you need to write until your heart's content.