Journaling is a fantastic way to supercharge your self-development efforts. When your thoughts are still in your mind, they can be challenging to analyze objectively.

Getting things out of your head and down on paper provides a totally different perspective.

Thinking tends to be very sequential; one thought leads to the next, which leads to the next. We get caught in a linear track and miss out on the bird's-eye view of the whole thought process. With journaling, you gain the ability to see things from a third-person view versus a first-person view.

Three Great Benefits of Journaling

1. Solve complex challenges. When you write the issue at hand down on paper, the solution for a complex challenge often suddenly becomes obvious. The ability to re-examine the issue from a third-person perspective can make all the difference.

2. Increase clarity. One of the best times to lean on your journal is when you're filled with uncertainty about what action to take. Many things become...

Journaling is a great way to learn about yourself. Seeing things on paper is a little different than just thinking about them. Reviewing your day and your thoughts can be a powerful tool for self-awareness and personal growth.

You can learn something from each day, but only if you have the intention of doing so. Journaling provides the insight to make positive changes to yourself and your life.

Use these journaling techniques to learn more about yourself and enhance your rate of personal development:

1. Make journaling a habit. Write in your journal daily to get the maximum effect. Journaling less frequently will allow you to be lazy in living your life. When you journal each day, you’ll feel compelled to have something to write about. Set aside 15-30 minutes each evening and make journaling a habit.

2. Review your day. Begin each journal entry by reviewing your day. What happened? Record anything you might want to remember in the future, whether it’s a day or 50...

Some people find journaling appealing while others think it sounds like an incredibly boring activity. If you don’t currently write in a journal regularly, you might want to reconsider. There are numerous benefits to recording your thoughts, life, and aspirations on a daily basis.

Journaling can help your memory, problem-solving ability, achievement, emotional health, and even your physical health.

Consider these benefits:

1. A journal serves as a record of your life. Have you ever thought back on your high school or college days and thought, “What was his name?” Or have you ever wondered if a particular event happened in 1996 or 1997? A journal is a useful way to record significant events in your life.

2. A journal can be cathartic. When you get the tough stuff out on paper, you feel better. Journaling gives your emotional health a quick boost.

3. You view your challenges in a new way. Things look different in your head than...

Keeping a journal is a great idea for everyone, regardless of age. There are so many benefits gained from taking a few minutes each day to record your thoughts in a journal. The costs are minimal and the payback is huge.

A journal is a great idea for you and your children. Many coaches require that clients keep journals as part of their success program.

Discover 5 great reasons to keep a journal:

1. Keep a record of your life for yourself. How many times have you tried to remember when some particular incident in your past actually happened? Was it 1994 or 1995? Do you remember the facts differently from others that were involved? Who’s actually right?

If you keep a journal, you’ll have all the dates and facts right there. More importantly, you’ll be given the opportunity to see how your life has progressed.

As we get older, every day seems to blend into the next. We get up, go to work, go home, eat dinner, watch TV, and repeat for 40 years.

By writing down the...