Why Bullet Journaling is Good for Mental Health
You’ve seen my various bullet journaling posts each month, but something I haven’t talked about much is why I bullet journal. Very simply, it has done my mental health a world of good. Here’s a few idea of how bullet journaling can have a positive effect on your mental health. If you don’t already keep a journal, then why not have a go!
Getting creative
First and foremost, the creativity aspect. Getting creative, whether that be via an ‘adult’ colouring book or bullet journaling, helps you focus and relaxes your mind. You can unplug from everyday stresses and have some much-needed you time. Put on some calming music and add in a cup of tea, and you have a true form of escapism, perfect for relaxing your mind.
Bullet journaling for organisation
You know I love being organised. Bullet journals help you keep on top of tasks and events. I mean, this is good sense not just from a mental health point of view.
If you do struggle will stress or anxiety, especially when you’ve got lots to do, bullet journaling is useful. Writing down all those ‘things to do’ on paper is great for creating a visual representation of what’s going on, rather than having stressful thoughts swirling around in your head. What’s more, making yourself a checklist and ticking things off as you go along is very satisfying!
Mood/health tracker
Some people like to keep track of their mental and physical health in bullet journals. At the end of the month, you can see what days went well and which didn’t and then work on improving any negative areas.
Write down your thoughts
Whilst the typical use of a bullet journal is more of a calendar, don’t forget that you can still use it as a normal journal/diary if you want. Bullet journals are versatile and customisable. If you struggle to describe your feelings to others, get them down on paper. Whether you want to rant about something which is annoying you, or make a note of the good things that occur daily to help you stay positive. Once you have something written out, you then could use that to help you talk to someone.
Self-care centre
Another option is to make your bullet journal your ‘self-care centre’. Whether it’s keeping a list full of self-care ideas, treat ideas when you’ve reached a goal, Netflix recommendations, motivational quotes, you name it. Keep a record of everything that makes you feel better.
Have you tried bullet journaling? Do you think creativity benefits your mental health?
Megan x
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okay i reeeeally need to get on board with this bullet journalling thing. i’ve had the beautiful notepad in my drawer for months now, i’ve just been neglecting the poor little sausage! definitely worth tracking your mood and being able to identify areas that need some work 🙂
katie. xx lacoconoire.com ♥
Nooo don’t neglect your notepad. 100% worth using it and creating a journal. It will definitely help! X
I wasn’t convinced about bullet journalling for a long time (mostly because I had fallen into the trap of thinking it had to be pretty like the ones on Pinterest) but I completely agree about how it’s useful for mental health. Having a dedicated space to write down the things I need to do is a huge help for me and really helps me to stay organised. I have a separate bullet journal for practising hand lettering as well so that’s good for the creative side! 🙂 Awesome post, Megan!
Thank you Ruth! Yeah I have a separate handlettering book too for when I feel creative. I sometimes take inspiration from Pinterest but I think it’s nice to put your own personality into your design. I keep mine simple anyway as I’m not the best at drawing etc. X
Definitely agree with this! I use mine for all these reasons, and I’ve learned to just accept it won’t always look picture perfect!
Aw I think as long as you do what works for you, then that’s great! X
Oh I totally agree with these! Whilst I don’t completely bullet journal, I use a few of the methods and ideas in my planner. Could not be without it!
To be honest, my bullet journal is more of a planner for me as I don’t follow bullet journal guidelines. So helpful!
I only heard about bullet journaling a couple of weeks back. It definitely sounds like something I would like to try. As a school teacher I love lists and it will also give me an excuse to buy myself another cute notebook.
My mum is a teacher too and I’m trying to get her into it. Definitely recommend if you like lists! X
I so wish that I could make bullet journaling work for me. I’ve tried so hard several times and I can never seem to stick with it! x
El // welshwanderer.com
I don’t follow the strict bullet journal rules, mine is more if and when I need it. I still do the designs each month as it relaxes me x
Just stumbled upon your blog and loved this post, dear! Bullet journaling is seriously so awesome. I also think it’s such a great way to stay organized! I like to keep one for writing down lists, appointments, and keeping track of my goals! x
Exactly! I’m definitely one for list making. So satisfying when you can tick something off! X
Thank you so much for sharing your experiences with bullet journaling. It’s something I’ve been considering for a while and this post have pushed it further up my to do list.
Sorry to link spam your site, but I just thought I’d let you know that I’ve mentioned this post within my latest blog 🙂
https://rachaelhope.co.uk/positive-quotes-affirmations/
I really appreciate all the hard work you put in to everything that you do with your site!!
Rach ?
Aw that’s so sweet Rachael thank you! Will have a read! I’d recommend starting one. You can create it to suit you. Xx