Guest post by wellness, self-development and fitness advocate + podcast host Katie Williams.
Cathartic journaling is a very powerful tool that can unlock your emotions and help you gain more insight into your life. The word ‘catharsis’ comes from the Greek language and means to purge or release emotions.
We caught up with ex Australian sprinter, Bachelor of Sport & Exercise, Trainer and host of Better For It podcast, Katie Williams to discuss how writing can be a great way to relax and take some time to yourself. Katie Williams has teamed up with Comvita, Australia’s leading Olive Leaf Extract and Manuka Honey brand to speak about the daily habits that help her lead a healthy life and the different ways to journal.
Freeform Writing
Freeform writing allows you to tune into your thoughts, relax and let the pen flow. Write down whatever comes to your mind, don’t resist or filter yourself, just let it out. There doesn’t always have to be this big lifechanging moment to write but instead just take your thoughts to the paper. We tend to have 100 things going through our heads, freeform writing allows you to take a few minutes to relax and get lost in writing. At the end of your journaling whether its 5 minutes or an hour, it is important to have a takeaway each time you write. This can be an affirmation or an action to take away and start implementing.
Reflective Journaling
Reflective journaling allows you to dig deeper into your inner self, thoughts, desires and fears. It also allows you to explore experiences or events that have happened in your life. Writing about these experiences is a great way to get your thoughts and feelings onto paper and reflect on what has happened. Your journal is a way to talk to yourself and it helps walk you through something that has happened. It is important to reflect and notice your takeaways from the experience. Have you learned something? Or would you do anything different if put in that situation again? It is important to ask ourselves these questions and get a better understanding of the way we think.
Prompts to get you started:
What is your favourite childhood memory?
What do you love about life?
Using 10 words, describe yourself.
What can you learn from your biggest mistakes?
Set your intentions for the day
Journaling is a great way to start the day with a positive mind and leaves you feeling more confident and self-assured then when you started. It is a powerful way to show change and become more aware of your actions. My morning routine is for ‘me’ time and I start it by journaling to set my intention for the day. I start by asking myself three questions…
- What would make today great?
A better way to write a to do list, helps me stay motivated and inspired to get things done.
- What are the things that I am grateful for?
It can be 3 things or even 10 things you are grateful for. I find when I am grateful, I am less stressed and anxious, and I feel happy and inspired. Doing this helps me show up as a better person. Next time you are feeling stressed write down what you’re grateful for, as I am a big believer that you cannot be grateful and anxious at the same time.
- Affirmation.
Use the “I am” statement to inspire and empower yourself. e.g. “I am strong”, “I am happy’, “I am in control of my life”. I change my affirmation every day and find that it is a really powerful way for me to find out what’s on my mind and to self-regulate.
My tips for you is to start thinking about, what motivates you? What inspires you? Can you add more of that into your life? Start implementing the things you love to do. I love to listen to music and exercise and that’s a powerful state change for me. By writing the things down and reminding myself of things that I love to do I actually start implementing them. Journaling is a really powerful way to start the day and end the day. Give it a go and see how your life can change!
Championing self-care, the Timeless Wellness program by Comvita is designed to help all Australians on their health and wellbeing journey this winter.
