The Benefits of Journaling for Seniors

Taking care of one’s mental health is just as important as maintaining physical health as we age. This is especially true for seniors, who can be prone to loneliness and depression. One hobby that can have a positive impact on mental health which doesn’t take a significant amount of physical effort is journaling.

Journaling is as simple as writing down one’s thoughts or feelings in a diary. Journaling for seniors is an easy way to improve memory and even slow cognitive decline. While at first it may be challenging to decide what to write or it may feel awkward writing about feelings, ultimately journaling can offer a great boost to mental health.

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Benefits of Journaling for Seniors

Journaling can provide mental and emotional clarity, as well as add a routine and structure to the day. Here are some proven benefits of keeping a journal for older adults:

• Reduces stress and anxiety. Writing down emotions is a practical way to express them instead of suppressing them. It can help process emotions and release negative feelings. The act of writing out the feelings can clarify the cause of them and assist in finding helpful solutions to problems. 
• Promotes healing and self-reflection. The longer we live the more likely we are to experience hardships, grief, and other challenging situations – along with many amazing, happy experiences, of course. Writing down difficult memories can help work through them, allowing the writer to find closure and emotional healing. 
• Boosts memory and cognitive function. Written reflection makes the brain use processes like recall and critical thinking – and as we know, the brain functions on a use it or lose it system. Even if you only use a journal to write down what happened during that particular day or week, you are still boosting cognitive performance and using the brain’s “muscles.” It is also an opportunity to enjoy happy memories from past events. 
• Encourages gratitude. Writing down just one thing for which you are grateful each day can significantly enhance mood and overall happiness. Shifting to a mindset that focuses on the positive helps keep negative thoughts and feelings at bay. 

Tips to Start Journaling

The hardest part of developing any new habit is starting. So start small! Try just writing three to four sentences each day rather than attempting long entries. Some other tips to grow a journaling habit include:

• Choose a format you enjoy. Don’t like writing, or have hand or wrist pain after writing for more than a few minutes? Try a digital journal instead – there are tons of iPad apps for journaling – some with prompts and some without. An audio or video journal could also be useful if writing is not your thing. 
• Create a routine. Journal at the same time each day. Make it special by sitting in your favorite chair or lighting a candle which you only light when you write in the journal. 
• Use a special notebook with a fun, decorative cover. 
• Look for writing prompts to get you started. You can find hundreds of writing prompts online or even purchase a journal with specific writing prompts already on the pages for you. Here is one list to get you started. 

Journaling has so many benefits, especially for elderly adults. It does not have to be intimidating – nothing you write needs to be particularly profound or serious – no one is going to read it but you. It is just a way to organize and work through thoughts, feelings, and memories. Give it a try for a few weeks and see if it is a habit that benefits you. 

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