Week#5: Journaling and To-Do Lists (Part 1)

Hello blog! Today was the first day of my last week of trying new healthy habits! This week I will be journaling and writing daily to-do lists! This morning when I woke up, I created a list of everything I wanted to get done today. I included chores, goals, and school work! I also created a color-coded key so that I could label each task as either done, partly done, or still needs to be completed. I believe that this will help me stay organized so that I can remember what I have completed and what I still need to work on. I also wrote down many positive affirmations at random points throughout the day when I was feeling discouraged or defeated. I used these little notes to restore my positive mindset and keep myself in check. At the end of the day today, I also wrote down three things I was grateful for that happened today as well!

Throughout my research on this healthy habit, I discovered that it has many benefits. I learned that creating a to-do list helps you stay on task throughout the day so that you do not lose sight of your goals. Therefore, creating a to-do list each day can increase overall productivity. Journaling can help manage stress by recognizing what triggers ones stress so that whatever it is that is creating stress can be eliminated. Journaling also allows for positive affirmations and self-talk which can boost self-esteem. Journaling also encourages a positive mindset. Positive affirmations encourage us to correct toxic patterns of negative self thought. Positive affirmations can also increase the release "feel good" hormones in our brain which help improve your mood. Overall, creating to-do lists and journaling have both proven to have positive effects on mental wellness.

Since today was my first day of creating a to-do list and journaling, I have not seen very many changes yet. So far, I have noticed that it has been very convenient to have a to-list to refer back to when I forget what I need to get done. This was much easier than trying to recall what I needed to get done today from memory. I have also noticed that writing positive affirmations throughout the day has been a good way to refresh my positive mindset and put myself in a better mood. I have also noticed that crossing things off of my to-do list makes me feel very accomplished and productive. Writing three things I am thankful for at the end of the day has also given me a chance to do a quick reflection and realize how grateful I am. I am excited to see what other benefits this healthy habit brings this week. Stay tuned for more updates!

Sources:

Staff, GoodTherapy.org. “How 15 Positive Affirmations Can Change Your Life.” GoodTherapy.org Therapy Blog, 11 Oct. 2016, www.goodtherapy.org/blog/how-15-positive-affirmations-can-change-your-life-0923157.

University of Rochester Medical Center. “Journaling for Mental Health .” Content - Health Encyclopedia - University of Rochester Medical Center, www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentID=4552.