Hannahlaneblogs

My entire life, I have been a notebook person. From the time I was five years old until now as a 21 year old college student, I have thrived upon writing in a notebook and journaling all my thoughts out. 

My first notebooks started as a mix of chicken scratch, a physical documentation of my life, made-up stories, and lists. These lists ranged from which Lip Smackers I wanted to who my favorite celebrities were at the time. Although the content of my lists have changed, I still thrive on physical written lists. Something about a crispy gel pen on paper feels therapeutic.

Everyday in my bullet journal, I write a to-do list of school work, extra-curricular work and events, actual job work, and gym workout. The satisfaction of checking the box after completing each task makes me feel even more motivated to complete the work. I also keep a long and ongoing list of potential blog topics as they come to me throughout the day. (Believe me, I don’t find inspiration every single day).

Another form of journaling that has been especially healing is The Anti-Anxiety Notebook. This notebook created by therapists guides you through your anxiety thinking and provides you with some leading questions to answer and jot down when you’re feeling anxious. This gives me time to slow down my thoughts and really think and work through them as they come to me. Sometimes, once I have written them down and worked through them, I feel way better than when I had first picked up the book.

Working through your emotions and slowing down your cognitive process in states of panic and anxiety can be extremely helpful. Not only can it help alleviate some stress and calm you down, but it can help you recognize your thinking and stress patterns. Writing my thoughts out can be just as effective as talking them out in therapy because as things start being put on paper I can see more clearly. 

Another benefit I have noticed from writing more on paper is that I am able to go back and reflect upon what I have written and seeing my handwriting and pen color from that day can help me see more vivid memories. I don’t often do this with the anxiety book, but more so with a box I keep with letters written to myself during various times in my life. This “memory box” serves as an interactive diary where I have entries from the last 8 years along with pictures, cards, receipts, football game tickets, and other small paper memories. This form of nostalgia is therapeutic in being able to remember exactly how you felt in that moment and exactly how far you have come. It’s also healing in the moment as you put all your emotions and feelings onto the page in a letter to your future self. Most of the time I am laughing at what had seemed like a big deal during that time.

So, take out your colorful glitter gel pens and a fresh notebook and start writing a little bit everyday. Whether it’s a to-do list or your exact emotions in the moment, put it on paper. By spending a little bit of time writing each day, you spend a little bit of time on yourself and healing your soul each day.

Xoxo,

Hannahlane