Journaling For Teenagers

You are aware of the benefits of journaling as this activity provides an outlet to express your emotions, reflect on their life's experiences, plan for the future and much more. However, have you considered how journaling can greatly impact on others, such as teenagers? Journal can be one of the most significant tools that you can give to them to improve their literacy and social growth. Here are the key benefits of journaling for teenagers.

1. Journaling helps the teenager to record their dreams and experiences. Several teenagers need a forum to record all the things that are happening in their journey. It can be about a recent win at a soccer game or the fun times at a sleepover. Once the teenager has recorded their experience in the journal, they can revisit those memories in the future. Sometimes, the teenager may be able to see different perspectives of their experiences after they have been journaled. A teenager may want to write down in a journal their dreams or plans for their future (e.g. they want to be a firefighter!). 
2. Journaling allows the teenager to recognize and process their emotions. The teenager is going through multiple emotions, especially during the pandemic. These include being sad because of the distance from friends or being frustrated with learning online for school. By journaling these emotions, the teenager will eventually recognize them, and be able to process them. This will lead to self-awareness and emotional intelligence in the teenager.
3. Journaling improves the writing and communication skills of the teenager. As the teenager creates a discipline to journal regularly, he/she will be able to improve their writing and communication skills through this journaling practice. Over time, the teenager's sentence structure, grammar, spelling, and vocabulary will enhance. The teenager will be able to articulate their perspectives much more effectively. Developing these skills early on will be useful in the long run in many aspects, such as their career.

If the teenager is new to journaling, there are several tips to consider. The first step to introduce journaling to the teenager is to make a regular habit by establishing a routine. We can pick a suitable time with the teenager, such as after school or right before bedtime. Then, find the appropriate journaling tools. There are multiple digital 'diary' tools that make journaling fun and interactive for the teenagers. If digital apps are not accessible, then give the teenagers blank papers or notebooks to start journaling. Some teenagers may need templates or prompts to help them to start writing down something in the journal. Allow them to use a template or prompt until the teenager feels comfortable writing freely and open-ended. If the teenager wants to express their emotions or perspectives through illustrations, then let him/her this is their way of self-expression. There is no wrong or right way to journal - allow them to have their own style of journaling! The last tip is to respect the privacy of the teenager's journaling. Journaling is a non-judgemental and secret place for the teenager to pour out their thoughts and feelings. Don't force them to share unless the teenager wants to. 

Let's encourage our teenagers to keep a journal. It is one of the best mindfulness activities we can give as a gift to our teenagers! 

#mindfulness #meditation #empower #wellbeing #mindfulmoments #enlightenedenergies #mentorship