Dear Diary...

One outlet that I have found extremely helpful when it comes to relieving stress is journaling. It sounds silly, I know, and something that your younger self might have done, but I promise there are no entries talking about my love for Derek or how mean Ashley was being at lunch today...it's serious stuff.

I am someone who has an extremely difficult time verbalizing my thoughts and feelings, and whenever I try, they don't always come out the best. However, writing has always been one of my favorite outlets, I was able to slip out of reality for a little bit and really get my thoughts and feelings across. I started journaling this summer after reading an article on the benefits of it, deciding just to give it a try to see if it would actually help. And to my surprise, it did. There are some days when my post could be extremely detailed and I am trying to remember what exactly caused me stressed or sparked a certain thought that day, while there are others that might just be a more detailed to-do list that was stressing me out or a quote that caught my attention. No matter what it is, it has just been helpful to get whatever I need to off of my chest.

I am not one for straight lines and set spaces, so I made sure to get a journal that had clean, clear pages. After perusing the notebook isle at Target, I decided on getting the unlined Moleskine journal. I liked this one because the pages where thicker and offered me enough space to jot down things as well as doodle, which I so like to do on any paper I get my hands on.

Because Moleskine is a brand name, the journals tend to be a little more on the pricey side. If this is the look and style you would be interested, there are very similar styles that are available, including this almost identical journal from Amazon. And while both the unlined style and Moleskine brand might not be for everyone, it is important to remember that all you need to do is start. It might seem weird at first, writing down things that happened that day or something that bothered you, but it honestly feels like such a weight being lifted off your chest. Some people find it difficult to talk about their feelings, so writing it down might be a better alternative.

all my best wishes and vibes,

Zoe

#stress