At this moment in history, many people are struggling with the emotional backlash of COVID-19. Our government, the press and social media bombarded us with messages of hope, fear, control, propaganda, false stories. 

 People have processed in different ways, but many people felt traumatised by the events. Good, hard-working people saw their worlds crumble, and processing their emotions was a hard path. As children, many of us heard our parents say, “Be grateful for what you have, there are children starving.” While it is true that there are countless people who have faced genuine hunger during COVID-19, this has not been the only trouble. People have lost homes, lost schooling and other challenges. 

Going back to work does not remove these challenges, and this is where journaling can help. While not everyone feels comfortable enough about speaking about their feelings, writing is for some a more effective tool. Effective journaling is a journaling practice that helps you meet your goals or improves your quality of life. When staff and clients get back to work, they may still need to process some emotions that built up during the pandemic. 

A journal may be one of the best gifts to give at this time. But do a bit a research and add a note about the process and benefits of journaling, so they see this as not just another promo gift, but as a well thought out gift that shows that you really care about them. Journaling requires the application of the analytical and rational left side of the brain. But, the right hemisphere, the creative part is in tune with your emotions, is given the freedom to wander and play at the same time. (Grothaus, 2015)! Allowing your creativity to expand. This can bring significant changes to your emotional wellbeing. 

Here are some guidelines for effective journaling. 

Write in a private and personalized space that is free from distractions.

Write at least three or four times, and aim for writing consecutively (i.e., at least once each day).

Give yourself some time to reflect and balance yourself after writing.

If you’re writing to overcome trauma, don’t feel obligated to write about a specific traumatic event—journal about what feels right at the moment.

Structure the writing however it feels right to you.

Keep your journal private; it’s for your eyes only—not your spouse, not your family, not your friends, not even your therapist (although you can discuss your experience with a therapist).

Promotional journals are not only a cost-efficient giveaway item, but they are a great way to build positive associations with your brand. A journal is a place where people store treasured memories. Every time they open this special book, they will remember your company too. Journaling has been shown to be effective in helping people manage their depressive symptoms. 

Although Journaling is no substitute for professional guidance when the depression is particularly severe, it can complement other forms of treatment or act as a stand-alone symptom management tool for those with mild depression. 

Expressive writing can reduce symptoms of depression in women who are struggling with the aftermath of intimate partner violence (Koopman, Ismailji, Holmes, Classen, Palesh, & Wales, 2005).

Writing in a journal may also be as effective as cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) for reducing symptoms of depression in high-risk adolescents (Stice, Burton, Bearman, & Rohde, 2006).

Expressive journaling may not reduce the frequency of intrusive thoughts in depressed individuals, but it moderates their impact on depressive symptoms, leading to a reduction in symptoms (Lepore, 1997). 

Journaling can help college students who are vulnerable to depression reduce their brooding and rumination, two contributing factors of depressive symptoms (Gortner, Rude, & Pennebacker, 2006).

In general, people diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder reported significantly lower depression scores after three days of expressive writing, 20 minutes per day (Krpan, Kross, Berman, Deldin, Askren, & Jonides, 2013). 

If you are looking for promo journals, please give us a call on 067 752 1203 or email us on sales@belleregalo.com