Somehow I have known this for a long time but now Mayo Clinic agrees publicly that journaling is beneficial. I have begun using this blog as my journal because since returning here sporadically there are no followers. That's ok with me, I can journal away, working my way through winter isolation in this season of my grief. I suppose these days of pandemic and more isolation to more people countrywide bring on more feelings of isolation and loom. I have copied and pasted here as a self reminder, what Mayo says:
Journaling: Why it's good for you, how to do it By Mayo Clinic Staff Do you ever find yourself feeling overwhelmed, stressed or anxious? One often-overlooked way to deal with these feelings is journaling. "As situations become stressful, we can easily become overwhelmed and caught up in trying to just get through the day," says Craig Sawchuk, Ph.D., L.P., psychologist and co-chair of Mayo Clinic's Division of Integrated Behavioral Health. "Journaling is a helpful way to take time out to reflect and focus on where you're at this moment and how you have been doing."
The power of journaling Journaling is one way to express your thoughts in a safe space and without judgment. It can help you organize your feelings, process worries or frustrations, or clarify a problem you're working on. Journal writing also appears to reduce stress and increase well-being. In one study, adults who spent time journaling three days a week experienced several benefits. They reported less anxiety and depressive symptoms, and greater resilience. Other studies have found that journaling may improve blood pressure, heart symptoms, self-care and quality of life. Journaling can also help you stay focused on your progress toward health-related goals. "Journaling increases self-accountability," says Dr. Sawchuk. "It can also create an opportunity for self-reinforcement by encouraging progress toward these goals."
Getting started with journaling There's no right way to journal. The key is finding the method that works best for you. "Journaling can take on many forms," says Dr. Sawchuk. "It can be a brief stress-o-meter rating from 1-10, writing down the things you're grateful for, or an opportunity to set and check in on progress with goal setting." The main idea, Dr. Sawchuk says, is that your journal entries are brief, focused, relevant and practical. He offers this advice for getting started:
Keep it simple. Don't worry about having a fancy journal or complicated journaling system. "Set the bar low to start," says Dr. Sawchuk. "The simpler the better!"
Make it portable. Carry your journal with you so you can write when the inspiration hits. Or keep your journal on your smartphone, which is likely to be close by.
Add it to your routine. Journal at around the same time each day — for instance, every morning or at night before you go to bed. It may be helpful to set an alarm to help you remember.
Set time limits. "Set limits on how long you journal when you first start," says Dr. Sawchuk. "From 2 to 10 minutes is a good goal."
Get creative. "Try to make it fun and creative," says Dr. Sawchuk. "The brain loves novelty, so having a cool looking way to journal may be more engaging than a pencil and a blank piece of paper."
Bullet journaling, collages or illustrations are just three ways to be more creative in your journaling.
Be yourself. Remember that no one else is going to see your journal. Free yourself up to write what you really think and feel.
Don't let journaling add to your stress. Don't feel pressure to be a good writer, to have perfect penmanship or to use a fancy journal. And be wary of trying to do too much with your journal. "Don't try to track so many things that you overwhelm yourself," says Dr. Sawchuk. "That would be counterproductive to the purpose of journaling."
Don't get discouraged. Don't give up or be hard on yourself if you miss a day. "Each day is a new day to get back on track," says Dr. Sawchuk.
I am currently sorting through my collection of my journals that I wrote with pen over so manyyears, especially when I was in my career days in CA. I have often thought how irrelevant to my life today are all those things I fretted so about in the bureaucratic world of state government. How seriously I took things that now are meaningless and when I read some of the worry I had over such trivial things I shake my head and wonder what I could have been thinking. Still, it was my world then. Who knows why I kept these, now something else to rid self and space of. I think once upon a time I fantasized about writing a memoir and would need these as reminders. I did not do that just like other grand plans and ideas and now I have no interest to do so. What for? Bigger yet, who for?
As our sub zero temperatures have continued and I am staying in for now the 3rd day in a row I look for things to do. I have occupied myself the last two days polishing wood upstairs, the baseboards, doors, cabinetry in the bathrooms, the hallways all the extra bedroom doors. I have a lot of wood and do not really do this type of polishing shining but maybe once a year. Jerry used to help out on this task but now it is another of those things I must do. It eases the boredom and otherwise stir crazies that could overtake me. I had intended to get out today but the winds howled this morning and the snow fell again and the weather advisory was stay in at -8 degrees when I got up this morning. Granted that is warmer than the 25 below a few nights ago.
I did a bit of driveway shoveling yesterday and cleared a path down the drive to the mailbox. Although it was zero degrees the sun was shining and I could work out there for a bit. The snow dusting was not enough for the snow removal guy I hire to bother with so he did not show up yesterday. He uses a small Bob cat. So dustings are immaterial to him. I wish I could hire someone to snow blow or shovel but that is a pipe dream these days.
I would have finished today but the additional morning snow made it more than I care to deal with. And yet he still has not come by, I hope he does tomorrow or yet this afternoon. Otherwise it will stay, the walk will not be shoveled and I will drive over it, which I dislike doing but will to get out tomorrow or Monday. Fortunately I do not need anything, I have enough food supply to eat for many months here. But I just like to get some outside world contact. Otherwise it is just me here. That is the worst, Phone calls help some yet it is very lonesome that I know.
One more door to finish up here on teh main floor and then done until I tackle the kitchen Monday. It keeps me busy and that is key to me.
