A student guide to journalling
Date 18 May 2023
Student nurse Dorcas Salako shares her very personal student guide to journalling while at university and beyond.
Dorcas turned to writing to help make sense of the changes in her life, when the challenges of moving to a new place and working in an unfamiliar routine threatened to overwhelm her.
When it comes to mental wellbeing, I can’t think of better advice than this: write it down, talk to a trusted friend and access wellbeing student support.
Moving to Northampton changed my way of thinking as well as my lifestyle, and the move made me discover new things and rediscover old things about myself. But that brought with it mental health challenges.
Looking for answers, I came across a TikToker who said that she journals every day and that it helped her to improve her mental health.
“Journalling helps with stress, anxiety, and depression to gain control over one’s emotions and to improve mental health and wellbeing. Journalling has had a huge impact on my well-being, allowing me to express myself widely and improve my communication skills and ability to be open. It has also helped me to make complaints and write about how I want my world to look.”
That made me stop and think, “How does writing every day help improve or maintain your mental health?” It was fascinating to hear and see her demonstrate that in her videos.
I decided to get a nice journal to jot down details about my thoughts, feelings, gym, intake of water, what I am grateful for, what I intend to do the day after, goals for the week, and activities done.
I began to journal every single day.
It is amazing to be able to deal with the things you are going through by expressing it through writing. I really noticed my mental health improved: I have fewer worries, and I’m able to release all stress, and anxiety into a beautiful notebook that will not judge, give feedback or come at me. It just absorbs all that is going on inside of me.
It’s like a safe space your mental health needs, you blow out, cry and re-strategise. And suddenly notice that you feel happier.
“What a comfort is this journal. I tell myself to myself and throw the burden on my book and feel relieved.”
— Anne Lister, “I Know My Own Heart”
Here at UON you can access a team of Mental Health Advisors for support on both personal and academic challenges.
Dorcas Salako is a nursing student at University of Northampton.