With the way the world is at the moment, we should all be putting a bit of time aside to focus on our well-being.

Self-care has never been so important, and anything that can help us feel a little more positive or self-aware is worth definitely looking in to. With that in mind, journaling for improved well-being is a pastime that's worth considering. Putting pen to paper regularly can be a great way of working on how you're feeling both in yourself, and about what's going on around you. From viewing the world in more positive light to better understanding your own emotions and actions, we've outlined some amazing benefits that journaling can have on your well-being. And, while the idea of journaling is to write about whatever you'd like, it can be hard to get into the swing of it. So if you're a journaling newbie, we've also included some prompts to get your started too.

1. It helps you to be more mindful

We're always hearing about the benefits of mindfulness, and it's definitely a great habit to get yourself in to. But if the usual mindfulness exercises, such as meditation, don't really work for you, journaling can be a great alternative. Journaling can be a great way of putting aside time to be more present and emotionally aware, and it creates a space where you can focus on how you're feeling in the moment. Regularly reflecting on how you're feeling physically and emotionally is a great way of learning more about yourself, and improved self-awareness is never a bad thing!

2. It can improve your creativity

Putting pen to paper regularly is a great way of working those creative muscles and will help you to get into a creative flow quicker. Your journal should be a space where you don't worry about things like grammar, spelling or punctuation, and instead just write freely, without restraints. You can also get creative with your journal's layout and design, by making it a space where you can embrace your artistic side.

3. It can make you feel more positive

Embracing journaling could help you to take the glass-half-full approach to life. Regularly reflecting on the things you've achieved, what you're grateful for and what brings you joy will train your brain into seeing the good in things, and ultimately make for a more positive life outlook.

4. It eases stress and anxiety

Journaling can be a pretty therapeutic pastime as it's great for reflecting on the areas of your life that are causing you the most stress. It can also help you understand how your behaviours or your actions are influenced by your feelings. Going forward, this self-awareness can help you to identify sources of stress in your life and help you to detect any bad habits that you want to squash. Similar to therapy, going through the motions of writing down what's on your mind and reading over it can also lead to the worries in your life feeling less overwhelming.

5. It can help you work towards achieving your goals

The time you spend journaling can be used to map out the things you want to achieve and pin-point what actions you can take to reach those goals. Creating lists of long-term and short-term goals and identifying realistic steps you can take towards achieving them is sure to bring you one step closer to where you want to be. It can also help you pin-point what goals are most important to you, and therefore should get the most of your time and attention.

Some journaling prompts to get you started...

• What inspires you?
• What is your opinion on soul mates?
• List three things you're grateful for today
• List three qualities you like about yourself
• What is a problem or issue I'm facing currently?
• How has the way I'm feeling been impacting my behaviour?
• List three short-term goals and three long-term goals. What can I do to start working towards these goals?