Journal through the Stars

You've been traveling for eons in search of sleep. You've crossed the universe and tried a million tricks for relief but something always perturbs you at night. Your thoughts.

Defusing lavender oil, turning on the sound machine, and crushing yourself beneath a weighted blanket all worked at first but couldn't provide lasting relief. It seemed nothing could soothe the nightly star stream of worries that streaks through your mind.

Did I forget something? Or make a mistake? How could I have done that? What am I doing now? What will I do next? Why?

These are important questions but they can erode your quality and quantity of sleep unless there are consciously managed—but how? You guessed it: Journaling.

That is why I challenge you to join in on my resolution for 2022: to journal every day of the year.

To incentivize you, here are 5 ways journaling will improve your sleep.

1. Calm.

It's amazing how simply writing down your anxieties can alleviate them. By preserving your worries on paper, you'll free your brain from having to constantly remember them. This opens up mental space for more positive experiences: tranquility and relaxation. For best results, write in your journal a couple of hours before bed to give your thoughts time to resolve. It beats having an existential panic attack just before bed every night.

2. Accountability.

The daily practice of journaling is a great foundation for personal responsibility. In the heyday of day-to-day life, it is too easy to let your ambitions slip by the wayside. With no one holding you to task, it is tempting to put on your favorite TV show and zonk out evening after evening after evening... But you'll never see imrovement that way. Think of journaling as "accountability practice." Even if you only write one sentence per day you will notice results. By creating a new habit you tell your brain through your actions that you can implement change. Cabability is a great feeling. Rest in it. In time, you'll achieve your goals. When you do...

3. Gratitude.

Take the time to acknowledge the good parts of your day: your accomplishments, moments of good luck, and the funny idiosyncrasies. The more you give attention to these good feelings, the longer they'll last. But gratitude is not only appropriate for good times. Sometimes being grateful for your hardships helps as well. The challenges of life shape us. Allow yourself to accept and cherish that change–though it may be uncomfortable at the time. A little self-love goes a long way to ease the mind during hard times.

4. Insight.

Writing out your thoughts forces you to slow them down, allowing you to observe them more easily. Once they're spelled out in front of you, you can delve deeper. Ask yourself: why did I think those things, how have my thoughts changed since then, and what does the difference say about me? Whatever your answers are, you'll be better off knowing what you're course on. That way you can make—and track—change.

5. Growth.

It takes 14-21 days to form or break a habit. If you recognize your patterns and hold yourself accountable through journaling, you may be surprised by how easy growth can be—and by how soundly you'll sleep, knowing that you are gravitating towards your potential. Just think of all the ways your life could be improved.

In Conclusion:

Journaling is a great tool to help you to calm your insomnia-inducing, to hold yourself accountable, to remind yourself to be grateful, and to grow. Altogether, the practice of keeping a journal makes for a more fulfilling life and more restful sleep.

That is what resolutions are all about. Now, go make it happen. There's a whole universe of possibilities waiting for you!