THE
BENEFITS OF
JOURNALING
FOR CAREGIVERS
By Lisa Hutchison
Journaling is one self-care practice caregivers can utilize
to connect within. This ritual becomes a personal
record of your observations and experiences. It is
your choice whether you share your writings or not. Most
caregivers keep their journal private to ensure they have a
safe place to vent about the specific difficulties they face.
Some caretakers prefer a blank journal to free write, which
means writing whatever comes into your head without
censoring it. Others prefer a journal with prompted
questions specific to a topic of interest to them. You can
purchase journals online for energy healing or caregiving.
Inside you will find questions and suggestions to guide
you. Often those who are not as comfortable with writing,
prefer a prompted method. No matter what kind of journal
you use, it is a relatively inexpensive way to reduce and
manage daily stress.
You do not have to be a writer, to journal your thoughts
and feelings. It is your decision if you express yourself in
bullet points, short sentences or complete paragraphs.
Others may feel more at ease drawing pictures or shapes
with words or phrases inside.
The Benefits of Writing for Caregivers
1. Convenience and Freedom
There are many reasons caregivers find value in journaling.
The number one advantage is convenience. As a caregiver,
your time is precious and packed full of responsibilities.
Many people find freedom in choosing when and where
to write because there are no rules. This means you can
journal while waiting at a doctor’s appointment for the
person you care for or while he or she is asleep.
2. You will increase self-awareness
Writing forces you to slow down and pay attention to
what is going on in your life. As you connect within to the
forgotten parts of yourself, you discover healing and hope.
The page will not judge you and gives you ample room
to explore. By acknowledging the emotional hurts, you
decrease anxiety and depression.
As you maintain your journal, you can look at previous
entries and notice certain patterns in your life. These may
appear as ongoing issues or conflicts. Keep writing and
read your thoughts, you may find a solution for a long
withstanding problem.
As you connect to the present moment, you become
empowered to make healthier choices. You will begin to
notice sooner when your body aches or how hungry or
thirsty you are.
3. Writing helps you express your thoughts and
feelings into words
Writing is not only creative but also therapeutic. This tool
can be cathartic by releasing pent up feelings of anger,
resentment, fear, sadness and jealousy. As a caregiver,
you are outwardly focused on how others feel. Often you
ask; what can I do to make you feel better? In order to refill
your cup, you need to turn some of that compassionate
focus around.
Ask these questions to yourself daily;
How am I feeling?
What do I need and want?
10 TODAY’S CAREGIVER MAGAZINE • CAREGIVER.COM
/CAREGIVER.COM
