I think you should journal.

Many of these writeups are focused on living a joyful life. Perhaps you’ve noticed, though: I try my best not to be too prescriptive. With few exceptions (like “you should be doing relationship check ins), I’m not about giving you outright directives. Your life looks so different from mine, I could not possibly know what specific strategies will work best for you. So, when I do provide specific instructions, I want you to recognize that I have done so with great care and consideration. Keep that in mind as you read this:

I think you should journal.

I’ve been journaling with relative consistency for about a decade. Sometimes, I write multiple entries in a day. Other times, I go three months without writing. (That typically happens when things are really good in my life, and I’m too busy living it to report on it. I’m working on that.)

I have a little ritual around it. I always pick colorful journals that are aesthetically pleasing in my bookcase. They have to be the right size, too. I keep a pouch filled with little pens of various colors for the sole purpose of journaling. There’s a specific brand I like; they feel nice in my hand, and I like the way the felt tip glides across the page. Whenever it’s time to journal, I select the color that feels “right” that day. I always start each day on a new page, always with the same date format, and always sign off with something like “I love you, Lea.”

I say this without exaggeration: journaling has been the single most valuable tool in my mental health journey. I would not be who I am without it. Journaling has given me more insight and perspective than any therapist ever could. It has given me the chance to become my greatest collaborator, advocate, and accountability partner.

I’ve spent a long time thinking about why this tool has been so powerful for me. Based on my experience, the benefits fall into five categories: it documents a record of personal growth, provides hindsight insight, gives me a space to process, facilitates accountability for my commitments, and allows for creative expression.

I could write a whole book chapter on this — in fact, I have — but I’ll leave it at this:

If any of those things sound appealing to you, go find yourself a journal and a pen you like, and just start writing. You won’t regret it.