Benefits of Keeping a Diary

 

Keeping a diary is not just for the young.  It is a great for adults as well. Writing in a diary has many positive health benefits.  Not only does it provide a way of recording the events of one’s daily life, it can help to relieve many physical discomforts.

Ø  Relieves stress

Keeping a diary can help to relieve stress.  When a person is under stress, the stress hormone called cortisol is released into the blood system.  This hormone put the body in a “fight-or-fight” mode, and it stops all functions that are not need immediately. Cortisol is designed to help the body during dangerous and occasionally tense situations. Small amounts of cortisol are good, but on a daily basis cortisol can wreck havoc on the body.

By writing in a diary, a person is able to put all those negative feelings down on paper. It offers an outlet for feelings of stress and frustration which will help to decrease the amount of cortisol in the blood.

Ø  Helps for depression

Writing in a diary can help with depression.  When a person is depressed, they feel hopeless, helpless, and tired.  Financial strains, traumatic events, and stress are some common causes of depression. By writing about one’s feeling and frustrations, a person can self-reflect, identify a cause, and begin to deal with those feelings. A person can write in a diary without having to worry about judged or condemned.

Ø  Improves brain functions

Writing is a mentally stimulating activity and, as such, it is a great way to keep the brain functioning at its best. It can also help improve a person’s memory. By participating in stimulating brain activities, a person can help slow the development of dementia.

Ø  Decreased digestive problems

Diary writing can help improve a person’s digestion.  Because cortisol, the stress hormone, stops or slows any function that is not need immediately during the “fight or flight” mode, a person’s digestion is affected. A person who is dealing with stress on a regular basis is prone to heart burn, indigestion, and constipation.  By decreasing the amount of cortisol in the body, a person can improve their digestion.  Diary writing offers a way to minimize cortisol and improve digestion.

Ø  Decrease symptoms of arthritis

Keeping a diary or journal has also been shown to help with symptoms of arthritis.  Writing about the challenges of the disease allows an outlet for stress and helps the person cope with the difficulties associated with the disease.

Ø  Improved immune functions

Keeping a diary can also help to improve immune functions. Writing in a diary has been proven to decrease stress which has been shown to suppress the immune system. By writing in a diary, a person can decrease stress and decrease the negative effects of cortisol on the immune system.

Writing in a diary has many positive benefits. It has been shown to help decrease the amount of cortisol in a person’s blood stream, decrease digestive problems, improve brain function, less the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, and help with depression.

http://voices.yahoo.com/the-five-benefits-keeping-diary.html

http://arthritis.about.com/od/journal/a/journalwriting.html

 

Realistic Ways to Destress

If you are like me, life can get to be pretty hectic. Things can become overwhelming with trying to juggle a demanding, full-time job, kids, writing, blogging, dating, and all the other things that life throws my way. So, what’s a busy woman to do to stay sane?

•  Find time for yourself. Carve out a few minutes per day just for yourself. Forget about all those piles of paperwork. Turn the phone off. Spend some time away from the kids and the man in your life. Do something that makes you happy. Paint your nails. Write in your journal. Go for a walk. Listen to some music.
• Stop worrying about everything. Worrying is not going to change anything. It is only going to give you a headache or anxiety attack. It can lead to heart disease and stroke. So, stop sweating the small stuff.
•   Stop nagging. Nagging does not work. It will not get you any further. It will only alienate the ones that you love. It will also lead to stress.
• Exercise. I know. I know. You are too busy to exercise. However, you can squeeze in 30 minutes a day by doing some simple stretches or jogging in place during those commercials. Yoga and meditation are also great-if you have the time.
• Go to bed. So, you have a big assignment due and you have to get it in. This is okay occasionally. However, this should not be the norm. Sleep is vital. It gives your body the downtime it needs to recharge.
• Drink more water. Stop reaching for those soda, energy drinks, or large cups of coffee. (Trust me, I am guilty too!) Grab some water instead. Your body needs it to function properly. Plus, it doesn’t have all of those empty calories.    

http://voices.yahoo.com/natural-ways-cope-stress-anxiety-11990690.html

http://marriage.about.com/od/chores/a/nagging.htm

http://voices.yahoo.com/simple-ways-de-stress-12077322.hmtl