Wellness Journaling | The Science Behind the Story

By Melissa Camacho

Wellness is a part of your daily routine to maintain your physical and mental health. Journaling and expressive writing contributes to boosting and maintaining your wellness. Wellness is defined as being in the state of your physical, mental, and social well-being to cope with stress, be proactive, and interact within a social environment (Gilman). According to research, people who experience mental health symptoms, such as depression and anxiety, also develop physical health issues (Physical Health and Mental Health).

In this article, you will learn how journaling and expressive writing supports your wellness by strengthening your physical and mental health.

The Positive Impact Journaling Has on Wellness

The practice of journaling or expressive writing plays a role on how wellness embodies your physical and mental well-being. Journaling has an impact on your wellness because you are forming a relationship with your mind through self-expression (Esposito). When you journal your emotions, you are able to become aware of behavioral patterns that can help you set priorities and boundaries for future progress. This can be accomplished through the practice of wellness journaling.

A wellness journal allows you to not only release your emotions, but to keep track of your well-being as well, which leads towards making goal-oriented decisions (What is a Wellness Journal: A Mindful Practice to Make Life Simple). As a result, wellness journaling helps to (The Write Way to Wellness: How Journaling Can Help You Connect to a Healthier Self):

Release and filter emotions you experience from traumatic events, such as anger, fear, and frustration
Provide a private space for catharsis where you validate, acknowledge, and accept your emotions without judgment
Observe behavioral patterns from your experiences that either inhibit or promote wellness

Your physical wellness also benefits from mental wellness through your self-reflection in journaling and expressive writing. Writing down your thoughts and emotions gives you the platform to embrace your inner self, explore what your desires are, and maximize self-care.

In the next section, you will learn how journaling and expressive writing impacts your mind and body for better physical health.

How Wellness Journaling Heals and Improves Your Physical Health

As per evidence supported by James Pennebaker, psychologist of the University of Texas, and the author of Opening Up: The Healing Power of Expressing Emotions, expressive writing promotes your physical health to (The Power of Journaling of Writing and Journaling for Mental Health):

Reduce levels of stress which stimulates the nervous system
Improve liver function and the function of the immune system
Regulate brain activity and boosts working memory
Lower blood pressure
Get better sleep by minimizing insomnia

The more you practice journaling or expressive writing, the higher your wellness progress will be. Learning from the positive impact wellness journaling has on your mental health, you will be encouraged by your self-confidence to manage your physical health. In other words, journaling and expressive writing empowers you to overcome emotional challenges by valuing your overall health. Self-awareness to gain self-respect must be in place before you build on self-care to cultivate wellness.

You can promote and expand your wellness by joining our expressive writing program at The Love Story. The Love Story’s digital journaling site can help you develop self-awareness by journaling and transforming your thoughts and emotions into purpose and meaning.