Mental Strength How to Journal to Build Mental Strength By Amy Morin, LCSW, Editor-in-Chief Published on February 11, 2022 Print Verywell / Amy Morin Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Friday Fix: Episode 143 More About the Podcast Every Friday on The Verywell Mind Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Amy Morin, LCSW, shares the “Friday Fix”—a short episode featuring a quick, actionable tip or exercise to help you manage a specific mental health issue or concern. Subscribe Now: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts Friday Fix: Episode 143 Have you thought about journaling but didn’t know where to start? Do you think writing about your feelings would be a waste of time? If so, you’re not alone. I hear many therapy clients say they’ve considered journaling over the years but for one reason or another, they just didn’t start it. Or, if they did start journaling, they didn’t stick with it. Staring at a blank piece of paper might feel intimidating. Or, you might feel overwhelmed by the sheer volumes of journals sold in stores. But, don’t give up on the idea of journaling. There’s tons of evidence that writing in a journal can be good for your emotional well-being. Not all journaling is created equal, however. There are a few things you can do to make it especially helpful in building mental strength. In today’s episode, I share what the research says about the benefits of journaling, how to use journaling to build mental strength and the one thing you should avoid doing when you write in a journal. The Benefits of Journaling for Stress Management More About the Podcast The Verywell Mind Podcast is available across all streaming platforms. If you like the show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. Reviews and ratings are a great way to encourage other people to listen and help them prioritize their mental health too. Download the Transcript Links and Resources Follow Amy Morin on Instagram. Check out Amy’s books on mental strength. The Best Anxiety Journals According to Experts If You Liked This Episode You Might Also Like These Episodes: Friday Fix: The Letter Everyone Should Write to Themselves Choose Your Story, Change Your Life With Bestselling Author Kindra Hall Friday Fix: How to Reduce Uncomfortable Emotions So You Can Think Clearly How Journaling Can Help With PTSD By Amy Morin, LCSW, Editor-in-Chief Amy Morin, LCSW, is the Editor-in-Chief of Verywell Mind. She's also a licensed clinical social worker, psychotherapist, and international bestselling author. Her books, including "13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do," have been translated into more than 40 languages. Her TEDx talk, "The Secret of Becoming Mentally Strong," is one of the most viewed talks of all time. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit Speak to a Therapist Online Advertiser Disclosure × The offers that appear in this table are from partnerships from which Verywell Mind receives compensation.