Pebblepup's Writing Den

A good mental health is vital for creativity. If you have concerns, fine. If you have worries, they will distract you from your creative endeavors. So how can you improve your mental health? One way to do it is to create and maintain a wellness journal.

There are several you can buy online or in bookstores. There are other, cheaper options as well. You can buy a small notebook at a dollar store, if you are in the US. Then you date your entries with the current date and write down three things you are grateful for that day. I use OneNote which is part of office 365 for my wellness journal entries. I can enter them on my phone. But, most phones have a memo app that you can use. If your app allows you to create file folders, you can create a folder to hold your entries in. Then use that.

My entries consist of a daily intention, a desire statement, three things I’m grateful for. An inspirational quote, and four questions I answer at the end of the day.

The daily intention is something you want to do to improve yourself that particular day. It can be a simple as “be present” or more elaborate such as, “I want to be more active and go to the gym.”

The desire statement is something you create as a way to improve yourself. You imagine a future self in which you get whatever you want to achieve. Mine is to be healthy and fit.

The daily inspirational quote is optional. I signed up to have one sent to me daily via email. I copy the quote from the email to my wellness entry for the day. Then I try to put what it means into my own words. This part is optional, but I find it helpful.

The three things your grateful for are three things you feel grateful for. This part is crucial. Gratitude helps you to achieve a positive mindset. That’s the first part of my wellness entry.

At the end of the day, I open the wellness file and read the four questions I need to answer. These questions can be hard to answer. They are:
“Who or what inspired you today?”

“Who or what brought you comfort today?”

“Who or what brought you joy today?”

I added a further question of, “How do you feel?”

The first three questions have you reflect on your day. The last question has you examining your mood at the time. The answers to these questions will also help you.

Be honest with yourself when you answer the questions. If you weren’t inspired that day, say so. If you weren’t comforted by anything, say so. If you were either of those things, say that. This isn’t a journal you need to share with anyone.

A wellness journal is a tool that can help you achieve a more positive outlook on your life. There are studies which show that if you have a positive outlook, things will be more positive in your life. Give it a try. It might take a few weeks to kick in, but you will find yourself happier. That’s a great feeling.