Why Journal?

Now that you have given up alcohol you may find yourself with some time on your hands. You also may find yourself dealing with emotions brought on by this lifestyle change. Sure you can talk to family and friends or maybe even a recovery group about what you are feeling, but there is an alternative.

You can journal.

So what does it mean to keep a journal? If you had a diary when you were a kid, it is similar. A journal is a place to record your thoughts. You can keep track of daily accomplishments or write down future goals. You can jot down feelings that you may be struggling with in your journal. You can practice what you may want to say to a friend that you are trying to make amends with by writing it down. Your journal can hold all your secrets and provide a way to let it all out. Basically, your journal can be whatever you want it to be.

Here is some advice on how to get started keeping a journal:

• Commitment
  
  If you are going to journal you need to make a promise to yourself that you are going to spend a certain amount of time on your journal. You can choose whatever schedule you want. You may want to write daily and choose to do so at the close of each day. You may want to write weekly every Sunday night. It does not matter what schedule you set as long as you keep to it and make the commitment to journal.
  
  
• Tools
  
  Make sure that when you choose the manner in which you journal that it is inspiring to you. You can go the traditional route and make your own journal or buy a journal that you hand write your thoughts in. Or, if you are more technologically inclined, you may choose to journal on your computer or create a blog. Again, you have the freedom to choose how you journal. Just make sure your method is convenient and inspires you to write.
  
  
• Get Started
  
  Dive right in to your journal. Don't worry if you don't think you have something to say. Start off with what you did that day. Write down some goals that you have. Record some feelings about a movie or a song. No one is going to read your journal unless you want them to so it doesn't matter if it is "right". This is just for you and you can make it what you want it to be.
  
  
• Review and Reflect
  
  Go back and read through your journal from time to time. See what you were doing a few months ago or check in with how you were feeling at a particular time. You can gauge your progress as you go through your alcohol recovery. You can learn from mistakes that you have made or celebrate your triumphs. You have a lot to say that is important and you should start listening to yourself.
  
  

Going through the process of quitting drinking is tough. You are going to use many tools to get you through. A journal is one more of those tools. It is the place where you can really address how you feel and what you are going through. It can help you get out the emotions you have inside and can serve as a creative outlet and wise use of time in your new alcohol free life.