CLEAN OUT YOUR MIND THROUGH JOURNALING

Photo by Fletcher Wold / the Advocate

Being a community college student means you’ve probably got a lot on your plate. From classes to homework, and jobs to family responsibilities, it can be hard to remember to take care of yourself, but it’s vital that you do.

It’s a little too easy to become overwhelmed, overworked, and burnt out. The cloudy gloom and early sunsets of the Pacific Northwest winter don’t make things any easier, so checking in with yourself at the end of the day is important.

I do this by journaling. I don’t remember how or why I started doing it, but as I wrap up my 16th college-ruled spiral notebook I realize it’s become a necessary part of my everyday life.

We consume a lot of information every day and have a lot to keep track of as students. We’re constantly learning and planning, skimming social media and news headlines to keep up with the world around us, and trying to find the answers to our next steps in life beyond Mt. Hood.

I’ve found that writing can give me a lot more headspace. Every night, the last thing I do before I go to bed is turn to a new page in my journal, pick up a pen, and just write. Anything that comes to mind goes down on paper, free of conscious judgement or proper spelling and grammar. It’s not about how the thoughts come out, it’s about just getting them out.

I usually start off by writing about my day. It’s the easiest way to ease into the process, but I mainly do this for my future self. I love the idea of being able to look back and see what my life was like at a specific point in time to see how I’ve grown and changed. I also typically end every journal entry listing off the artists I listened to that day, because music is a central part of my life and I’ve always associated certain albums with certain seasons or years, so in a way it’s like writing out my own soundtrack.

Writing about my day usually turns into a stream of consciousness after not very long. I start to work through things on my mind and process my thoughts by writing them out and answering a lot of my own questions. It’s much easier to make decisions and identify and fix problems when you can see them written out in front of you.

Some days there’s less to get out, and that’s okay. Other days you’ll find yourself surprised when you write three pages. The best part is it will help you unwind before going to sleep. All those thoughts that bounce around in your head and stress you out when you should be sleeping will, for the most part, be cleared out. It’s a good way to transition from a chaotic day to a restful night.

Really, this isn’t just about journaling: It’s about taking time each day to do something for you. Whether it be watching your favorite show, listening to your favorite podcast, hanging out with someone you love, or playing your favorite instrument, it’s important to give yourself that balance between work and relaxation.

Advocate Staff