Rebecca Loomis 8/25/22 Rebecca Loomis 8/25/22

Mental Health Journal Prompts to Manage Stress and Anxiety

Mental illnesses are rising every day, and we have become more aware of them and tackle them through various means. For example: is writing a journal good for your mental health illnesses? And if so, why is journaling important for your mental health?

It’s a well-known fact that penning your emotions down can help lessen their intensity.

If you are juggling with a lot of journaling questions, our article will give you more information.

We have covered various aspects to help you with your thoughts, including mental illness writing prompts, self-reflecting daily mental health journal prompts, pdfs, related questions, types of journaling, and things to journal about for mental health.

We hope this article helps you with journaling for mental health.

So, let’s dive in!

What Is a Mental Health Journal?

A mental health journal is where you can document all your feelings, mental state, illnesses, and everything else. There are numerous things to journal for mental health, and it’s great to let everything out in any possible way.

When it comes to journals, you have a plethora of options. Digital or paper-based, tight or a looseleaf, text-based or an image-based, you can choose the option that aids you the most! After all, it is a personal, safe space where you can let out anything in any manner you wish to.

However, while journaling helps with your mental health concerns, “It does not take the place of therapy,” according to Chivonna Childs Ph.D., a counseling psychologist for Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.

Everyone has a different way of channeling their emotions; some prefer to go on a walk, while some prefer to sweat it out in the gym. However, everyone needs to give journaling a chance. We have combined some of the best journaling prompts for your mental health.

Why Journaling Is Good for Mental Health?

Journaling helps you battle your mental illnesses. There are many options for what to write in the journal for your mental health. This is an excellent outlet for the emotions that we all bottle in. You can write about the most random thoughts of the day and even mention the most complicated feelings that you believe might not make sense to anyone else.

Mentioning the things you are grateful for can help shift your mindset towards some positivity in the day. In addition, it can help you analyze yourself and guide you to a solution to the problems you might be facing.

Personally, journaling has become a safe space for me to express the emotions that one may go through on a daily basis. Whether it is taking down notes to discuss in therapy or just writing to collect jumbled thoughts, journaling has done wonders.

A small study by researchers at Pennsylvania State University found that journaling can decrease mental distress, depressive symptoms, and anxiety. In fact, it can increase the mental well-being of the person. Other research related to journaling also explains that it can reduce the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Penning down whatever is on your mind can help you find your triggering points and coping mechanisms. Once you are self-aware of all these aspects, you might be able to communicate better in therapy or even work on the emotions yourself.

To help you get started, we have included daily self-reflection mental health illness journal writing prompts. Get yourself started using journaling apps for mental health, or simply grab a paper and a pen!

Types Of Journaling for Mental Health

Now that we have answered your question about how journaling helps and improves your mental health, we will be discussing the types of diaries you can keep. There are numerous types of journaling for mental health, but we will be discussing only three in this section. Accordingly, you can choose the best-guided journaling prompts for your mental health diary.

Bullet Journal

In this type of journal, you can list down all of your thoughts and ideas for the day in bullet points. You do not need to worry about the consistency and the flow of your thoughts; you can simply write down short pointers to empty out the mess in your mind. This kind of journaling is ideal for beginners who feel clueless about what to put in their journals.

These mental health bullet journal ideas are followed by apps too, and you can get such journaling apps for your mental health, with a mood tracker for advanced functionality.

No Judgment Journal

A no judgment journal is where you can write anything and everything without any fear of judgment. Often, we forget that we are the most jugemental towards ourselves.

Dump all the thoughts that are on your mind onto the journal, no matter how dark. A big part of journaling is realizing that dark thoughts are natural in every human being. You aren’t a bad person for having such thoughts. They are natural!

Write in any manner you wish, use any mediums you like, just remember to express your inner self. From texts to images to stamps, use anything! Make your diary colorful; use stickers, pens, markers, and anything available to you. The only idea here is to express your feelings.

Gratitude Journal

This journal is meant to make you feel better and shift your mind toward a positive and brighter side of life. It’s time to make the grass greener on your side! For any situation, there can always be a silver lining. Sometimes, you just have to look really hard for it. If we tend to focus on the positive, we might be able to wire our minds to be more optimistic. This can be quite effective in finding solutions to any of your problems.

To help you get started, we have included guided journal entry prompts for your mental health.

Mental Health Journal Prompts

Writing in your journal can be the first or the last thing you do in the day. The best way is to vent everything out on that piece of paper in any way you feel like. Here are some prompts to help you get started:

How did your day go?
What is the highlight of your day that made you smile?
Identify the things that you are grateful for today.
Any event that occurred throughout the day that made you feel sad?
How did you cope with the day?
What are the coping mechanisms that you use for your mental health concerns? Are they healthy?
What are your goals for today? Did you achieve any of them?
Write something positive for yourself that you might tell to people who are in similar situations.
Describe yourself and how you feel to a stranger.
How do you describe yourself? How do you want to be recognized by people?
What are your strengths in friendship or relationship? (e.g., kindness or empathy)
What are the essential boundaries you should keep in relationships to keep them healthy?
Write a love letter to yourself.
What are some of the lessons that you have learned in your past relationships?
How do you show compassion to others? How can you extend that same compassion to yourself?
Describe a peaceful place where you’d like to be.
What are the triggering points that make you stressed, anxious, or angry?
Write a letter of forgiveness to yourself.
What do you fear the most?
What improvements would you like to make in your current life?
Write about a difficult situation and how you coped with it?
Is there anything new you learn about yourself today? (e.g., passion for a sport or love for reading books)
What are your favorite songs? Why have they made it to the list? Do they mimic your situation or help you with coping with the difficulties?
What is one of the strongest emotions that you have felt?
How would you like to change the situation? What needs to be done?
What things or which people are comforting for you?
What makes you laugh the most?
What are the deepest secrets you hold that you never talk about?
If you have ever experienced panic attacks, how did you cope with them?
What was one of the worst panic attacks? What triggered it?
Is your anxiety tied to a memory or an experience?
What has stress taught you about yourself?
If you could achieve anything in your life, what would it be?

Conclusion

Dealing with a mental health crisis can be hard, especially if you do not have the support you need. With journaling, you can be part of your own support! Whether you choose to do traditional pen and paper journaling or use an app, buckle up and start writing. We wish you the best of luck on this journey! We are sure you will come out to be stronger than anything before.

Rebecca Loomis 6/30/22 Rebecca Loomis 6/30/22

Things to do Near Watkins Glen New York in 2022

There is hardly any doubt that with the approaching summers, we are all looking for a vacation getaway at a peaceful, fun place. With all old places getting overcrowded and overbooked, where can you find such a place? Watkins Glen is your ultimate destination.

Why Watkins Glen?

Watkins Glen is a small village in New York that calls out to tourists for its natural spacing and outdoor fun opportunities. We offer a long list of amazing things to do near Watkins Glen, New York, to have the best summer vacation this year. So, if you really need a place to crash this summer, keep on reading!

What to do in Watkins Glen?

Things that you will most certainly enjoy at Watkins Glen are:

Boating

Fond of sea adventures? Cruise into the sunset at Seneca lake. This is one of the finest things you can do at Watkins Glen that will allow you to explore the scenic beauty of the village. With an area spreading over 43000 acres, Seneca lake offers exceptional sailboat rides and cruising.

Multiple parks are present around the lake, which offer services such as allowing visitors to launch their own boats and renting boats out to tourists.

You can always experience the local boats that offer lunch, dinner, everything to make your visit pleasant. Apart from fine dining, you can have sightseeing from the vintage passenger ship and experience the best of what nature has to offer. But if you wake up asking yourself what is there to do in Watkins Glen today, your first answer is sightseeing the sunset on sails, and it is romantic and equally relaxing.

If you are not in the mood for romance or are taking a solo trip, you can have excursion trips full of exciting facts about Watkins Glen. Cruising is, without any doubt, a win-win for everyone.

Visit the farms

Farm visiting or agritourism, whatever you may call it, is one of the best things to do in Watkins Glen, New York. Why?

Well, aside from the fact that the farm sanctuary is filled with shrubbery and cool, green pastures, it has gorgeous farm animals which make your visit worthwhile. You can spend time with these cute little critters and even enjoy their fresh dairy products.

These animals had been rescued by the sanctuary and given a better life. You will be accompanied by a tour guide to make your visit informative. Not only is the information about farm animals' history but also about farming practices. So that agritourism turns into Agri formation!

With your closed rubber boots, you can visit the farm sanctuary gift shop along with other comfort points. The bed and breakfast offered there will make your romantic trip even more magical.

Explore the wineries

What is the use of being in the country when you cannot enjoy a little grapevine at the wineries! Trailing off in the natural beauty of the wineries, you can plan activities around them as they offer one of the finest wines that can blow your mind away. That's why it is one of the most popular things to do around Watkins Glen, New York.

Do you enjoy fancy wines while relaxing your eyes in the soothing natural environment? Well, your wait is over. The member wineries in addition to the Seneca Lake Wine trail, welcome visitors to taste their best wines while falling in love with the beauty of the area.

The wines composed of a variety of grapes include:

Premium hybrids
Chardonnay
Riesling
Pinot noir
Cabernet franc

These different wines allow you to enjoy whichever taste you want the most. It is also a preferable activity for the elderly as it is less taxing than other physical activities at Watkins Glen. You can always hire a guide or driver for a proper trip around the Watkins’ wine trails.

Hiking at State Park

You may ask what to see at Watkins Glen state park? What is so special about it? There are tons of state parks in New York?

Well, the answer is it is the most gorgeous by all standards. Spanning over 778 acres, it has everything: waterfalls, trails, gorges, and daunting camping sites! A real joy for adventure seekers.

Not only is it a honeymooner's paradise but also a desirable space for photography. Hiking is for the Bravehearts. And while one is lost in the snaking hiking trails, you can witness the dreamiest waterfalls.

Gorge trail is the most popular among these trails. It not only carries multiple waterfalls but also jaw-dropping cliffs to add to the scenic beauty. Hiking is an exerting activity so make sure you are loaded with all essential items that you may need. If you are wishing to see the waterfalls, then hiking is your best option. Otherwise, you can find other activities that suit you better. But if summing up what to do at Watkins Glen state park, your answer is hiking!

What to see in Watkins Glen?

Hop on the next train with your friends and family and enjoy long hours of relaxation at the finger lake, simply sunning yourself. You can also visit numerous places that are no less than avenues of adventure. Some of these places are:

Watkins Glen International

If you are into car racing, Watkins Glen International should be your next stop. It is one of the finest racing tracks of international standard and boasts of being the host of several world-famous races for two decades now. Among these, the most famous one is the Formula One United States Grand Prix.

So, you bet and watch great car races and be the visual audience. Aside from racing, the place is famous for concerts and other fun events. So, if you are a fun person and want to know what to do in Watkins Glen, opt for audience-oriented fun events at the racing track! This activity is also extremely feasible for all age groups.

Finger Lake National Forest

National forest of New York state in Watkins Glen? What more surprises does the place hold? Finger Lake National Forest is naturally preserved and maintained for tourism. It's an enormous patch of lush greenery and wildlife. In addition to this, the meadows and ravines offer just too much beauty to be handled on one trip.

The forest trail consists of 30 miles and covers the entire area. So if you are hiking on this trail you will be able to see the entire national forest in one go. Not only does the forest offers scenic beauty but it is also a hub of outdoor activities such as:

Fishing
Skiing
Hiking
Camping

These are only a few of what is offered at the national forest. So, it is a must-visit point on your Watkins Glen trip. It is also favored by youngsters for the adventurous appeal it has.

Waterfalls

Incredible waterfalls are the hallmark of Watkins and Glen. Through the state park, you can definitely enjoy these waterfalls. These include:

Rainbow falls

As mentioned earlier Gorge trail takes you to multiple waterfalls, including Rainbow waterfall. This place definitely takes one over the rainbow.

Excelsior falls

This waterfall is a symbol of all the natural beauty Watkins Glen has to offer. A cascade of 170 feet, it is quick to drive to in no time. This makes it feasible for all, especially those who cannot hike.

Hector falls

Like Excelsior falls, Hector falls also don't require hiking. It is definitely magical to visit and the third largest waterfall in New York. It is a road avenue to visit easily by driving north of Watkins Glen.

Montour falls

This amazing waterfall is three far from Watkins Glen in the south. Its beauty can be witnessed through Watkins Glen Main Street. So, if you don't want to get near, you can always experience it from far.

You will need to hike for a few waterfalls, but every step you take is worth the view in the end. For people who don't wish to hike, Hector and Excelsior falls are the best options. It is definitely one of the best things to do in Watkins Glen.

Franklin street

Enough with the natural beauty and peaceful experiences. If you are more into commercial centers and entertainment outlets, Franklin Street is your go-to place.

Full of life, Franklin Street has an enormous number of restaurants and shopping centers from where you can pick up the souvenirs of your journey. From fine food companies to international brands, it is jam-packed with everything you might want to make your visit a bit fancier.

Furthermore, during the summer months, the place hosts exceptional exhibits of the local products to facilitate the tourists. What more can you ask for? It should be one of the things to do near Watkins Glen, New York.

The Bottom Line!

If you have found out what to do in Watkins Glen, New York, seriously, shouldn't you be booking your ticket to Watkins Glen right now? With all the natural beauty and adrenaline rush, fun opportunities, lose all your worries in the waterfalls of Watkins Glen or go explore the hustle and bustle of this quaint little town.

Rebecca Loomis 7/4/21 Rebecca Loomis 7/4/21

Travel Journal Prompts

If you have trouble maintaining your travel journal, you have arrived at the right place! Keeping up to date with your journal can be a tedious process, especially in the busyness of daily life. To save you the trouble of coming up with ideas of what to include, we have combined some of the best travel journal prompts to help you get started and allow your ideas to flow through.

It’s true. Maintaining a travel journal requires a lot of motivation and effort.

So whether your little travel buddy will accompany you or your loved ones on adventures, we have you covered.

Let’s dive in!

What Is a Travel Journal?

For anyone who finds the idea confusing, let us first explain what a travel journal is. A blank travel journal is where you can document all your trip memories or future trip ideas. Your travel journal can be digital or paper, loose or bound, text-based or image-based. The limits are endless!

Travel journals can bear different meanings to different people. A blank travel journal might be exciting for you, a partially filled travel journal might be a motivation for you to continue exploring the world, while a full travel journal might contain some of the most precious memories you hold.

Reasons For Keeping a Travel Journal

Why would you or someone keep a travel journal in this technological world where social media can hold all of your memories? Simply put, nothing can beat the feeling of documenting your memories down in a physical format. The personalized touch of handwritten travel journals makes them super unique, and you can come up with gift ideas, such as a scrapbook, to share these priceless moments with someone special.

For teachers, you can come up with travel journal ideas with prompts for your students and encourage them to document their experiences. Not only would this allow them to reflect on their experiences in the present, but the journals would bring them immense nostalgia and joy as adults. After all, human beings tend to forget the intensity of emotions they felt while traveling. A travel journal can be a great reminder of all the heartfelt moments!

Other than documenting in your journal to keep the memories fresh, you can also use it to plan your trip as well as keep yourself organized throughout the journey. Journals help you stay sorted. Some scheduling and a to-do list never hurt anyone!

Moreover, traveling experiences can be a great learning ground. Whether it is jotting down the name of the bakery that bakes the most scrumptious muffins or tips to avoid being a victim of scams, a travel journal can be your learning buddy!

Travel Journal Tips

Maintaining a travel journal with the right motivation can be difficult to execute. Good thing we are here to help. We have a few tips that you can follow to stay motivated throughout your journey. Don’t worry if any of these do not work for you, for everyone is different. One thing is for sure, no matter how different, each one of us can always find our reason to hold onto documenting in our personal travel journals.

Even the best travel journal book writers struggle with writing prompts, so we have listed some tips, ideas, and DIYs that you can use to help you stay motivated throughout the journey.

1. Document your day in the journal using different mediums

Yes, this is one of the essential tips to keep you motivated throughout your journey. Nobody likes being confined to text only. There needs to be more than just one way to channel the moments of your day into the journal.

You can document all your experiences or ideas in textual form. However, if you are not in the mood for writing, you can doodle or paste some printed images. These images can represent a monument, landmark, or scenario representing the best part of that day. You can make use of markers, pens, stickers, stamps, beads, pins, maps, tickets, or postcards; whatever makes your travel journal feel personal. Come up with creative travel journal ideas and maybe turn them into your favorite scrapbook.

2. Do not edit anything

Always go with the flow when documenting something in your journal. Try not to make too many edits and cut off anything that you write. Having raw, unedited thoughts help to keep it personal, besides, you can always refine your writing later should you choose to do so. Travel journals need to be your safe space, so come up with ideas and DIYs to give them your personal touch. This will keep you highly motivated.

3. Document complete stories

Don’t get me wrong, you do not need to include every single detail of your travel stories, but try to include as many details of each day as you can. You can make a travel journal with different layout ideas or separate cover and page ideas to help you stay motivated while documenting your story. Include as many prompts as you can in your travel journal, the more the better.

Use all your five senses and visualize the day you spent to document your day. Imagine how magical it would feel to relive these details later in life when you reread your journal.

Whatever you did today was enough; remember to be kind to yourself.

41 Travel Journal Prompts

Here is a list of 41 travel journal prompt ideas to get you started. Starting off your journal is usually the most challenging task. Once you get started, keeping up with it becomes a habit you will enjoy.

Without further ado, here are all the prompts to help you you document your journey forever:

Which places are on our bucket list?
What are your expectations from the trip?
Which sites do you wish to visit in each city?
What is the motivation behind visiting each of the sites?
Any disasters that happened while planning the trip?
Which site are you most excited to visit? Why?
Any stories you have heard about the sites you will be visiting?
Any advice you have heard of the locations you will be visiting?
What adventure has been your favorite so far?
What souvenirs do you have from your previous journeys?
What souvenirs do you expect to bring back from the trip you are planning?
As soon as you reached the destination, what did you feel?
What is the best highlight of your day?
Anything that you did today which helped you grow?
Any difficulty you experienced today, or any trouble you got into today?
Did you try a new adventure?
Did you eat something new?
What was the most wholesome moment of the day?
What made you smile, laugh, or cry today?
Which kind of people did you meet today?
How are the people here different from the people of your hometown?
Do you miss anything about home?
What cultural experiences and differences did you notice?
What is the morning view from your balcony?
How is the experience living with a roommate if you share a room?
Using five senses, describe how you feel about your destination?
Did you try anything that was out of your comfort zone?
Did you learn any new words or phrases today?
Does the destination remind you of another similar destination?
Do you miss someone on your trip?
Would you like to revisit any destination of your journey? If yes, with whom would you like to revisit the place?
Where do you plan your next journey?
Did things go exactly your way? If not, what were the expectations vs. reality?
What is something that you learned and would want to implement in your life?
Whom do you miss the most on your journey?
How did travel change you?
What is your craziest transport experience?
Is there any fear that you have overcome in this journey?
How has your residence experience been?
Was the planned time enough for you to visit all the listed sites? Would you want to stay some extra time in the place?
Any misconceptions that were cleared on this trip? It could be regarding the people or the location itself.

Conclusion

Traveling can be life-altering. Keeping a travel journal can be even more! If you do not own a travel journal, we urge you to start. The 41 prompts listed will definitely help you begin your journey and continue it for a lifetime. If you already maintain a travel journal, these prompts can serve as motivation. One day, we hope our travel journal ideas will bring a smile to your face as you read your responses to them years later.

We wish you the best on your travel adventures!

Mental Health Journal Prompts to Manage Stress and Anxiety

What Is a Mental Health Journal?

Why Journaling Is Good for Mental Health?