Journaling for Self-Care and Improvement
As we reach the point of the semester that is the root cause of headaches, hair-pulling, and occasional tears, it is good to find ways to take care of ourselves in the face of midterm season. Some people find that exercise helps lower their stress; others prefer yoga and meditation. I personally recommend journaling and I'm not necessarily talking about "Dear Diary...", although such an opening isn't inappropriate.
Writing aids you in collecting and organizing your thoughts–it concretizes the nebulous mass of thoughts that is always swirling about in our heads. It gives us something to see: "Oh, that's what's on my mind." It can be as simple as a to-do list when you feel you have so much work that you cannot decide what to prioritize. It can be a free writing exercise on a discouraging or heartening event that happened today. It can be a reflection on an inspirational quote. (These are all writing prompts, by the way, if you were wondering what you should write.)
Not only is journaling useful as a calming practice, it is also effective as a tool for improvement. As you get into the practice of casual writing, you will develop skills improving your academic writing. You'll be better able to craft long sentences, to find the word you're looking for, and to develop the unique style that breathes life to your papers.
