Giving or receiving a bound book of empty pages waiting to be filled with thoughts can be one of the most precious, life-changing gifts. Whether you’re a published writer, a struggling writer or an aspiring writer, putting pen to paper can be both therapeutic and helpful. Here are five reasons why journals make for the perfect gift.
- Committing to writing in a journal every day will get creative energy flowing, forcing you (in a good way) to get into your writer headspace. While the thought of sitting down at the computer every day to write might seem daunting at times, keeping a journal can help make sure writer’s block never pays you a visit.
- Journaling is good for you! During the stressful holiday season, venting in your journal can give you a sense of center and save you from letting your feelings ruin an otherwise lovely family gathering. Tell the pages how much you can’t stand your mother-in-law instead of doing it face-to-face.
- With all of the busy-ness of everyday life, it’s easy to lose track of you. . Writing in a journal will make you more self-aware and can also have actual emotional and physical benefits, including helping to manage depression, rage and anxiety. By talking yourself through situations in the pages of your journal, you can get a clearer picture of the person you are versus the person you want to become.
- When it comes to developing a new story or character, ideas can be hidden in the pages of your past. You might discover your next literary icon right under your nose.
- A journal is just an effective way to remember where you were, who you were with, how you were feeling last week, last month, last year. And with a multiple-year journal, you’ll be able to reflect on the time that has passed, the ways in which you’ve changed (or not) and the smaller accomplishments you may have forgotten. In other words, your journal might be the support system you need to stay focused on your writing arc.
