Mental health problems are experienced differently by everyone and are therefore subjective, but there are some methods that have been shown to help us address and manage our feelings, and also help us to feel more positive about the future. Lockdown allowed many of us to take up new hobbies and pursue existing interests, but journaling was one activity in particular that the nation has maintained interest in – largely due to the wellbeing benefits that it can offer.
Nostalgia increases our happiness
Looking back at past memories and life moments has become commonplace over the course of the past year and a half, offering us a form of escapism from the pandemic. And while reflecting on the past can be an intellectual activity, nostalgia is also an emotional one. Memory is about recalling the facts of a past event; nostalgia is about recalling how it felt to be there. A 2013 study published in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin found that engaging in nostalgia led people to feel more optimistic about the future. Nostalgia is also related to higher self-esteem, happiness, and feelings of closeness to loved ones – engaging in past memories evoke these feelings for us, boosting our overall mood.
The impact of journaling on our mental health
The act of writing in a journal to record your innermost thoughts yields a whole host of benefits when it comes to our mental health. It can better our mood, increase our sense of wellbeing, and even lead to better working memory. In some cases, journaling is “prescribed” as a way to reduce PTSD symptoms or to help people suffering from depression and anxiety. However, you don’t have to be suffering to benefit from journaling – any time spent writing your thoughts helps your brain to get better at regulating your emotions. And a biography is like a journal on steroids!
Self-reflection is key to personal growth
If there’s one overarching condition of modern life – and one we can all relate to – it’s busyness. We move from email to email or meeting to meeting with little time to pause and think about our lives and their meaning — a situation that’s only been made worse by the distractions of smartphones. Yet Harvard researchers have found that making time for self-reflection is a crucial component of learning. Writing a biography is the ultimate exercise of self-reflection, as you aren’t just thinking about a day’s work, but your life as a whole.
