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What Are the Benefits of Writing Journals?

Journal writing has been around for centuries and is still one of the most-important tools that historians use to record history. Walt Whitman's journal of the Civil War outlines scenes from hospitals and battlegrounds that bring the Civil War to life and is used extensively by historians and sociologists when studying that period of time. Writing in his journal was not only a therapeutic experience for Whitman; it provided other benefits as well. Here are some ways that writing journals can benefit you.
  1. Organization

    • Life is busy and oftentimes chaotic, so writing in a journal is a way to organize your thoughts and clarify them. Keep lists of things to do, dreams to pursue and goals to reach in your journal.

    Memory

    • Keeping a journal is a useful tool for keeping track of all kinds of events in your life; for instance, recording when you planted your garden and the various growth times of different plants.

    Life History

    • Writing about your memories of your life and those of your ancestors is another way to write in a journal and benefits you by allowing you the space to work through past events and feelings.

    Healing

    • The journal provides a space to write about your innermost thoughts and dreams; it becomes your own personal therapist.

    Heirloom

    • Journal writing is a means of creating an heirloom for future generations; it creates a lasting legacy of the author that descendants will cherish for generations to come.

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