Keeping a journal changed my life

I started documenting my life in journals a few months ago, and it has truly helped me in various aspects of my life. Writing down particular events that stand out from my day provides an insight on my actions. When I write down about a debacle or dilemma in my life, I can see my situation from a different perspective. It not only aids me in making better decisions, but also helps in remaining positive and seeing every situation through a different light.

In my journal, I write about incidents that made me feel better about myself. I also write about people complimenting me, if I was rewarded for doing a particularly hard task or simply if I had enough time to read a good book and drink some tea. All these little things make me happy, especially when I re-read them.

I also write about the not-so-good parts of my day. However, it has been exceptionally hard to keep this journal. My daily life revolves around a routine and is normally very mundane. It is hard to feel driven to write about the same thing every day but my determination in keeping this journal made me leave my sedentary lifestyle. Instead, I started looking out for new experiences to write about in my journal. I started altering my routine every day, even if the change was as simple as taking a longer walk home, simply because it would give me something more to write about. Now, I have a journal that comprises of six months of my life. Looking at this filled journal conjures a feeling of excitement. Those six months of my life aren’t just memories, they are stories written by me in my journal.

Keeping journals also improves your writing skills, including your vocabulary and the quality of your writing. In addition, writing in journals and putting down your thoughts in black and white can help you avoid writer’s block.

Keeping a journal has made me turn over a new leaf. It is such a simple, seemingly inconsequential process, but has a potential of creating a heavy impact on your life.

— The reader is a UAE resident