{"id":569928,"date":"2023-09-25T01:36:46","date_gmt":"2023-09-25T08:36:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=569928"},"modified":"2023-09-25T06:27:38","modified_gmt":"2023-09-25T13:27:38","slug":"motivational-monday-putting-pen-to-paper-the-benefits-of-keeping-a-journal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/motivational-monday-putting-pen-to-paper-the-benefits-of-keeping-a-journal\/","title":{"rendered":"Motivational Monday: Putting Pen to Paper – The Benefits (and How) of Keeping a Journal"},"content":{"rendered":"

Motivational Monday: Putting Pen to Paper – The Benefits of Keeping a Journal<\/strong><\/p>\n

Have you ever written in a journal? Many of us kept diaries as kids, writing down our deepest and darkest secrets. While the concept may seem youthful, journaling can be extremely beneficial for one\u2019s mental health. By writing down our thoughts and feelings, we can clear our minds and become more focused on our goals.<\/p>\n

As all swimmers know, much of our sport is a mental game. We must have the drive to conquer long sets. We have to stand tall after we have a bad race, and show up to practice the next day ready to work again. We have to find the motivation to get out of bed when that 5 a.m. alarm goes off. Injuries and worries about our performance can consume our thoughts. All of these challenges undoubtedly take a toll on our mental health. Journaling can be used as a technique to relieve the inevitable stress that comes with being a swimmer. By writing down our thoughts, instead of keeping them in our mind, we help clear our conscience of anything that may be holding us back.<\/p>\n

You may be thinking: \u201cHow do I start?\u201d Personally, I prefer to journal at the start or end of my day (sometimes both!), but it is entirely up to the swimmer when deciding when to write. The first step is self-explanatory and simple. Grab a journal and your favorite pen or pencil. Putting a date at the top of the page is a great idea so that you can look back on your progress. Swimmers can write about a variety of things, whether they are positive or negative. If you\u2019re in need of inspiration, here are five journal prompts for swimmers:<\/p>\n