5 Reasons why you should be keeping a diary

Jot It Down: 5 Reasons why you should be keeping a diary

Sonia Lourdes

26 Aug 2016

updated the Friday, August 26, 2016

1/5
Your diary can act as your confidant
Your diary has the potential to be both therapist and friend. You can tell your diary things you wouldn't dream of telling anyone. Penning down your thoughts would not only get the extra edge off your mind but make you feel better in the process. It also helps you understand yourself better by reviewing how your actions may have also affected those around you.
2/5
Your diary can be a parenting tool
Parenthood, albeit a beautiful thing, can be tiresome, stressful and time consuming. Therefore, instead of venting all your stress on your children, why not take that time to write in your diary? Once that is done, your mind will be free and clear of the negativity that was bothering you from before. This in turn would enable you to focus on the good and make you more loving than before. Take this opportunity to instill some good in your children by getting them to pen their thoughts every few days so as to make this a bonding activity as well as a life skill!
3/5
Your diary helps you reflect
By getting into the habit of consciously and attentively looking back over your diary entries, you are able to track the patterns of your behaviour and help you understand yourself better. You’re also able to see the patterns that get in the way of personal and professional growth, as well as healthy relationships with yourself and others. By becoming aware of what you are learning, you can change yourself by doing things differently. Who needs yoga when a cheaper alternative is right in front of you?
4/5
It’s for your eyes only
A diary is an inexpensive, accessible and easily self-managed hobby. The best part about penning your thoughts is that you're doing it for your eyes only. This means bad grammar, made-up words and messy handwritting is totally acceptable. You are doing this for yourself.
5/5
You can exercise a little creativity
For those of you who are more artisticaly inclined, this is the perfect hobby to pick up! Diaries are a creative portal. Let your imagination run wild. Write, draw, paste photos... let this little book be a reminder of who you really are even when the weight of the world is on your shoulders.

Talking to yourself on a daily basis isn’t as normal as you claim it to be. Get yourself into the habit of writing your thoughts down instead.

Is your job ruining your life? Are you having a hard time coping with parenting? We know what you’re thinking: you’re not 15 anymore and diaries should be kept in a time where boys and friendships were the only two priorities in your life. However, studies have shown that people who keep diaries tend to be happier and more carefree compared to those who don’t. You don’t have to buy a well decorated notebook as well. With technology improving rapidly, your phone could easily turn into your private diary. You can save your thoughts via various diary applications that also come with a password feature. How cool is that?

Good news for those of you who are more artistically inclined, why not spice things up a little and have multiple diaries – one for every adventure?

Depression often affects those who seek solace in keeping things to themselves and that’s a big no-no in our books. As the saying goes “Hakuna Matata – it means no worries for the rest of the day”, so why does being an adult have to come with the stress, worry and grumpiness? It is possible to live life as a child and still reap the benefits of being a working adult or a fun mother. Head up to the gallery to check out 5 reasons you should be keeping a diary. Hop aboard the train of happiness. Toot toot!

Sonia Lourdes

Photo: Getty Images

Bed Habits: Can sleeping on your left save your life?

Motherhood Woes: Can ‘intense parenting’ lead to depression?

9 Exciting things to do in Perth, Western Australia