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Im assuming youve been advised tostart journalingat one point or another.
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That doesnt mean its right for everyone, though.
I dont journalevereven though its always been something I feel like I ought to be doing.
If youre on the same page (heh), youve come to the right place.
Here I wrote some down (for once).
Create video or voice notes.
Its pretty simple: Record yourself chatting about whatevers on your mind.
Some people find it helpful to watch or listen back to their recordings.
You might just see yourself in a new light, she says.
Make a mind map.
Think of this kind of like a vision board.
Think of it like a crime scene map, but for everything going on in your life.
(Heres atutorialfrom the father of mind mapping, Tony Buzan).
Mind mapsactivate both the visual and logical areas of the brain, which can help you organize your thoughts.
The combination of words and symbols can also activate your imagination, thereby boosting creativity.
Mind maps have been shown to encourage problem-solving and help people betterretain information, too.
Explore movement-based therapy.
Dr. Peifer journals from time to time, but she says dancing does far more for her well-being.
Like Dr. Peifer, some people process their thoughts and emotions best when theyre moving.
Movement-based practices give people a low-risk, safe space to express all kinds of emotions, says Dr. Peifer.
And theres no one right way to move through feelings, either.
Make art.
Art can give people a canvas to learn about themselves and explore their emotions without constraints.
You dont need an MFA to experiment with art; just enjoy whatever youre doing.
A tip from Dr. Bilder: Try not to be too critical of your creations.
Use apps to track your mood.
Not sure which (if any) reflective practice is right for you?
Dr. Peifer recommends experimenting with different techniques until you find one that clicks.
Keep experimenting until you find something that actually makes you feel good.
Whatever you land on, remember that you might make it entirely your own.
Theres no one-size-fits-all to this, Dr. Peifer says.
you’re able to make it whatever feels right for you.
