Benefits of Journaling

What Are The Benefits of Journaling?
Journaling allows people to clarify their thoughts and feelings, thereby gaining valuable self-knowledge. It’s also a good problem-solving tool; oftentimes, one can hash out a problem and come up with solutions more easily on paper. Journaling about traumatic events helps one process them by fully exploring and releasing the emotions involved, and by engaging both hemispheres of the brain in the process, allowing the experience to become fully integrated in one’s mind.

The benefits of regular reflective writing
Reflective writing enables the documentation of experiences, thoughts, questions, ideas and conclusions that signpost our learning journey. A scholarly approach to teaching requires critical inquiry into practice and into learning; change and improvement result after reflection, planning and action. Keeping a journal develops this as part of our every day practice.
Scholarly teaching involves an appreciation of the teaching and learning process and the ability to intervene purposefully and positively in the learning experience. Reflective writing provides an opportunity for us to think critically about what we do and why. It provides
• a record of events and results and our reactions to them,
• data on which to base reflective discussion,
• opportunity for us to challenge ourselves and what we do and to free us to do it differently and better,
• impetus to take action that is informed and planned,
• the means to develop a personal philosophy of teaching,
• an opportunity to view our teaching objectively and not see all problems as personal inadequacy,
• an enrichment to our classroom because we are prepared to innovate,
• increased confidence through increased insight which enables us to trust our students and enjoy them,
• basic documentation to support future entries in our teaching portfolio and for job applications etc.