How To Use Stream of Consciousness Journaling to Reduce Stress And Gain Mental Clarity
Last Updated on 01/02/2023 by Nicky
Try Stream of Consciousness Writing While Journaling to Reduce Stress
Shoot, sometimes my head is like one of those clown cars. You know the ones where one clown after another after another jumps out of a tiny car?
My head can be so packed full of thoughts that sardines ask me for advice. And when it gets that crazy up here, journaling and prayer and my best bets.
But what do you do when you have so much to say that you don’t even know where to begin?
That’s when stream-of-consciousness journaling comes to the rescue. This form of writing is where you just start writing without a real goal or agenda in mind. You just need to get your thoughts out on paper whatever they are.
I’ll be sure to tell you how to get started as well as give you some other tips and tricks so you can get the most out of this journaling style.
Let’s dive in!
Oh yeah, and this post contains affiliate links to great products that will help you in your health journey. I will get a commission if you decide to buy from these links but I’m only recommending products that I feel confident about.
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– How To Start Stream Of Consciousness Journaling
Like I said, this isn’t hard but as humans, we tend to overcomplicate things (okay maybe I’m just speaking for myself) so I’ll still explain what you might want to do.
Begin writing in a journal or even online like in Evernote, Trello, or Google Docs. If you’re really struggling with where to begin, start by using all of your senses.
Take a moment to feel how your hand feels holding your writing utensil. Do you have a firm or loose grip? Does the pen or pencil have ridges on it?
Focus on how it feels to move your utensil over the paper as you begin to write letters and construct words. How does the room smell?
What colors in the room stand out to you? As you look at the world around you, some words might pop into your head.
If a thought comes up in your mind simply write it down without judgment. You don’t even have to use complete sentences if you don’t want to.
To begin stream of consciousness writing, start writing what words or thoughts you are thinking at the time. Do not hold back.
Any thought or emotion is allowed to be put onto your paper.
Let your thoughts flow and do not worry about punctuation or grammar (even though I’m a grammar nazi).
This technique is used to release any thoughts that have been clouding your mind. Simply keep writing, flowing with every thought that is coming to mind.
Let yourself write for any length of time. Don’t pressure yourself to write for an hour unless you have that much to say. Write as long as you need to in order to gain the mental clarity that you seek.
For me personally, this is the true purpose of stream of conscious writing. It’s to gain insight into whatever it is that is bugging you or to help you find solutions to the problems that you having.
If you’ve been dealing with issues that have dragged you down for months journaling will start to provide clarity and give you ideas of how to fix these issues. With this newfound consciousness and clarity, you’ll find a great deal of stress relief.
– How Often Should You Do Stream of Consciousness Journaling?
With stream of consciousness, there are no rules except to get words on paper.
You can bounce around to different topics, write a certain number of pages or set a timer, or just write what you want until your hand gets tired.
Like I said before, the point is to find some mental relief from a challenge you are facing.
So whenever you find yourself in a bind, you can use stream-of-consciousness writing daily until you feel like you have solutions.
– Reasons To Try Stream of Consciousness Journaling
1) When You Don’t Know What to Write About
Something I didn’t mention is that you don’t have to only do this form of journaling when you aren’t sure what to say. You can do stream-of-consciousness writing at any time.
However, it is perfect for these moments when you aren’t sure what you want to journal about.
It is super helpful for getting your thoughts out of your own mind so you can see them on a page and try and make sense of them.
It is really great for bringing up what might be hiding in your subconscious.
Often, when I’m in the mood to write and I don’t know exactly what to say I will start a journal entry like this “I’m not exactly sure what to say or how I’m feeling but…” and then I just keep writing from there until I get a flow and a rhythm going.
2) After a Long Break from Journaling
Have you been away from journaling for a while? You might be a little stuck on how to begin again, so this is another good time to try the SOC writing technique.
It is a quick way to get back into the practice of writing and being honest with yourself and finding clarity. You can do it for as many days as you need to until you start figuring out where you want the focus of your journal entries to be.
3) When You Need To Do A Brain Dump
When you have so much on your mind, you just need to get it all out on paper so you can reflect and find some clarity.
This is one of the best times for a stream-of-consciousness journal entry. Sometimes, you get overwhelmed with stress and a million things you are trying to keep up with, and you need to sort it out.
This helps you to figure out what is weighing heavily on your mind, what is triggering your emotions, and what you need to work on.
4) If You Only Have a Few Minutes to Write
Another good reason to do this type of writing is when you only have a few minutes, and you want to get some quick journaling done.
There is no looking for journaling prompts (although I have plenty of prompts that you can choose from) or trying to think of a good topic. Just write for a few minutes, and your journaling for the day is done. You can also do this several times of day, or whenever you feel you need it.
– Have You Tried Stream of Consciousness Journaling?
Okay my loves, have any of you ever tried stream-of-consciousness journaling?
And if so did you like it and find it beneficial to your life?
I’ve done it and I recommend it to you any time you have emotions and thoughts that you can really pin down or understand. Try and see if you can’t start to make sense of what’s going on in your head! I truly believe it will help!
– Check It Out: Free Mental Health Journal Bundle!
We all know how important it is to set aside time for relaxation & self-care.
Our mental health depends on it! So if you’re looking for a relaxing escape from the anxieties & stresses of the crazy world we live in then enter your email to access our Renew Your Mind Mental Health Journaling Bundle!
What’s Included In The Renew Your Mind Mental Health Journaling Bundle:
- The Creative Rest Christian Coloring Book: These 5 beautiful coloring pages are accompanied by words of faith and inspiration designed to help you focus on the positive, relax your mind, and dwell on positive Christian affirmations.
- Joy Comes In The Mourning Grief Journal: If you’ve lost a loved one, then journaling is a tool you can use to begin to heal from your loss in a positive and healthy way
- The Stress-Less Anti-Anxiety Journal: This journal has a Count Your Blessings, Quiet Time With God, & Today I’m Feeling… pages as well as a Self-Care To-Do List & A Mini Day & Week Planner.
- 15% Discount code to use on any product in the HAYC store!
Plus I add to this bundle all the time
Just enter your email address below and the Renew Your Mind Bundle link will be sent to your inbox!
If Stream of Consciousness Journaling has helped you, please share it on social media!
– More HAYC Posts About Journaling For Mental Health
25+ Beautiful Adult Coloring Pages Christian Women Can Use To Boost Their Mental Health
9 Fun & Creative Things To Write About In Your Journal!
9 Creative Ways To Jazz Up Your Boring Journals & Boost Your Mental Health!
20+ Creative Lists To Write In A Journal When You’re Bored Or Anxious
50 Journal Prompts For Mental Health That Will Help You Process & Elevate Your Thoughts!
Journaling For Mental Clarity: How This Writing Craze Can Boost Your Mental Health
10 Positive Christian Affirmations Journaling Prompts For The Girl Struggling To See The Good In Herself
Medical Disclaimer: While Healthy As You Can strives to provide the most accurate information, anything you read on this site is purely for informational or entertainment purposes and should NOT be considered medical advice or as a replacement for a doctor’s care, diagnosis, appointment, advice, etc. I am not a medical professional at all. Any information, tips, or ideas that you try as a result of reading this blog is tried at your, the reader’s, own risk.
Mental Health Disclaimer: While I care deeply about your mental health, please know that I am NOT a licensed medical professional, therapist, counselor, social worker, or mental health professional. Any advice here is not to be taken as medical advice or a diagnosis. IF you need to talk to a licensed mental health professional you can use online-therapy.com (affiliate link) or call a mental health hotline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
