NOT YOUR TEENAGE JOURNAL ...
I’m continuing to hear employers discuss mental health in the workplace, a topic that I agree is hugely important. So important that we are looking to increase our support offerings related to mental health/crisis intervention soon.
This time last year, I was mourning several things. I was still processing the passing of my father the year before. Like many of us, I was unsure about how this lockdown would affect business. In fact, I learned several big wins (new projects) would go on hold indefinitely. And, in some ways, I felt like everything I had worked to build was slowly starting to unravel. I was really, really sad about it.
I acknowledge many people were/are navigating life and death situations, but I know I’m allowed my own feelings as well.
For several weeks, I allowed myself to be sad. I continued with therapy. I spent more time outdoors, in greenspace with my family. And then, much to my surprise I stumbled upon a new daily ritual that has seriously changed my life. I started journaling every morning. This is not a teenage type of journal that begins with “Dear Diary.” Journaling looks different than it did for me 30 years ago. I track things like my mood, my sleep, habits I’m working to layer into my day, my minutes of activity and much, much more. From there, I write my daily affirmation and intention. Then the next morning, I go back to the day before to capture my wins (good news) and a few sentences I call “About Today.”
There is no right or wrong way to journal, and to put it simply, it’s a powerful way to notice and express yourself.
According to the University of Rochester, journaling can help you:
Manage anxiety.
Reduce stress.
Cope with depression.
Journaling helps control your symptoms and improve your mood by:
Helping you to prioritize problems, fears and concerns.
Tracking any symptoms day-to-day so that you can recognize triggers, and learn ways to better control them.
Providing an opportunity for positive self-talk and identifying negative thoughts/behaviors.
I’m not suggesting that journaling is THE answer or the only answer. I’m offering up the idea that we can teach (and talk about) healthy ways to cope – a class that sure as heck wasn't offered at my high school – in addition to ensuring that employees get the health care they need.
In the workday, personal/professional development and healthy coping techniques can unfold in a variety of different ways, and can go absolutely go hand-in-hand. We’ve still got work to do, in terms of normalizing the conversation around mental/emotional health. But we are committed to supporting organizations through the process of finding the right fit and creating amazing workplace culture where people feel valued, supported and appreciated through all the seasons of life.
Source: University of Rochester
Explore further at PositivePsychology.com.
Author: Katy Tombaugh