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Learning Productivity

Why I keep a Stress Journal

Some insights on why I keep a stress journal and how I do it.

I started journaling when the second wave of Covid-19 hit India in April 2021. I’m not a daily journal guy even though I would like to make it a daily habit. I journal my thoughts occasionally on Obsidian in digital format using markdown language. I also maintain an Idea Journal in public, a resonance journal in Notion and a private art journal in Obsidian. The only journal I write in physical form is my Stress Journal. I don’t know where I got the idea, but I think I read about it on Twitter (I wish I knew the source so that I could credit it). If you don’t know what journaling is, it’s a self-practice where you record your thoughts and emotions in a diary be it digital or physical.

Do you know what’s common between Albert Einstein, Anne Frank, Marie Curie, Frida Kahlo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Frederick Douglas? They all kept journals.

Source:Mintexports
28-06-2021
Stressed due to job hunting
3/5

  
01-07-2021
Worried about finding purpose.
1/5

02-07-2021
Stressed due to 3 deadlines in 2 days.
4/5

This is how entries in stress journal look like. 

The idea of a stress journal is simple. Any time you face anxiety or stress, write the date and write about the feeling and what triggered it. I usually give it a score out of five to indicate how much it bothers me. Every time I open the journal to write a new entry, I go through all the previous entries. I cross out entries that don’t bother me anymore. This helps me to reflect on times where I have felt stressed, but it was short-lived.

Journaling about stress gives me a perspective of all things that bother me. Sometimes we get stressed about things that aren’t big enough to be anxious about. I had this feeling that I’m stressed all the time but the journal gave me an insight into how stress-free my life is. Even the silly things which bother us are temporary, and it’s a great way to reflect on our thoughts!

Are you planning to keep a stress journal? Check out this journal on Amazon where I write my thoughts.

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One reply on “Why I keep a Stress Journal”

Very informative😍😍👏

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