10 BENEFITS OF A JOY JOURNAL

by | Aug 8, 2018 | WELLNESS

Gratitude helps people connect to something larger than themselves as individuals-whether to other people, nature, or a higher power -Harvey B. Simon, M.D. Editor, Harvard Men’s Health Watch
FIGHT DEPRESSION AND BE JOYFUL HEALTHY LIFESTYL HAPPINESS AND JOY

*Story of my life.  She’s like “okay, mom….” and Kylie is avoiding the camera lol*

 

JOY JOURNAL WRITING JOY JOURNAL BENEFITS

JOY is something I dare say everyone would like more of.  Can’t imagine someone like “no ew gross, I don’t want to be joyful and happy.  Happiness sucks!”  Ha ha, I just can’t see it, unless that person is confused what joy is ha.  Anyway, I’ve tried (key work tied-I’m everyday improving) keeping a gratitude journal for the last few years, and goodness does it change the way I feel about myself and life.  But GRATITUDE can start to get a little repetitive if you’re writing everyday, so I’ve copied my sister in law in making it a JOY JOURNAL. examples of what a JOY JOURNAL entry might look like.  
  • Today Harley started waking (too early) from her nap, I went up to check on her to find Kylie girl singing her back to sleep.
  • Today I hit all green lights on the way to the grocery store
  • This morning I found my husband had taken out the trash 🙂 
Noticing and recording these tiny little joys will have an enormous positive impact on your life.  I speak from experience and from research 🙂 I’ve compiled a list of benefits, because most of us these days hear something wonderful and they’re like “uhhh where is the research to support that?”  So I did some research from reputable sources and in fact found that they’re findings correlate with what I’ve found to be true in my life WITHOUT having researched before keeping a journal.   And I don’t know, maybe you’re the type of person that questions everything and finds a way to not believe ANYTHING!  Hope that’s working out for ya.  In the meantime, these are some fairly reliable sources I think, and if anything, how is encouragement to be HAPPIER a bad thing??? 
  1. Better physical health
  2. Better mental health/mental strength
  3. Decreases stress
  4. Improve relationships
  5. Better sleep
  6. Eases depression
  7. Gratitude improves self care
  8. Grateful people are more successful
  9. Increased self esteem
  10. Increased life span
Sources: MayoClinic Harvard Health Phycology Today TIPS TO MAKE SURE YOU WRITE EVERYDAY
  • Do it first thing in the morning
  • Do it right before you go to bed
  • Set an alarm on your phone to go off the same time every day.  Stop what you’re doing right then and write.  *I find this one works best for me.