Journaling and Writing through Self Isolation

You don’t have to be a writer to write.

Another way of saying that is, everyone is a writer.

Now that we have that sorted, I’m going to offer one deeply practical and real way to look after your own mental and emotional health during self-isolation: writing.

This can be writing in any form. You can start a journal of thought, put your feelings into fiction, hone your favourite words and images into poetry, or even write a blog post about ways to look after mental and emotional health during self-isolation.

(No prizes for guessing which one I chose)

Before we get into it, just remember one thing. You don’t have to worry about writing anything good. Unless you drastically want them to, nobody has to see what you’ve written. It’s just for you. For your eyes only.

Right then, here are some ways that you can use writing to help you manage life during self-isolation:

Try Bible Journaling

In the wake of adult colouring books there came a new interest in journaling and drawing. With that came Bibles which feature illustrations inspired by the text, thick pages, wide margins and ways you can write and draw your own responses. Bible journaling helps you find new ways of growing calmer and growing closer to God

Start a Diary

Sometimes it’s hard to know how you feel unless you put it in words. A diary is a great way for you to do that. Best done at the beginning or the end of the day, keeping a diary helps you put down on paper your own story. Your own journey.

If you want a little guidance in keeping a daily journal, then try out the Q&A 5 Year Journal that uses a series of daily prompts to help you tackle life and understand faith a little better.

Get a Bible Study Guide with Space to Write In

A little more focussed than Bible journaling, some Bible studies now feature space for your own questions and answers. Great for getting you started in writing down your responses to the Bible.

If you want to make this a little more social, check out our guide to holding an online Bible study group.

Be Inspired to Write a Christian Novel

Everybody has a book in them, but not everybody writes theirs. If you feel like you have a story to tell, or have just been itching to see if you could, then do it. Give writing a novel a try. All you really need is a pen, paper and an imagination.

If you are looking for a little inspiration, then have a browse of our Christian fiction department to see the kinds of books available now.

These could soon be your peers.

Morning Pages / Free Writing

This is writing at its most bare and honest. You don’t write about anything in particular. All you do as soon as you wake up is go to a table or desk and write. Let your hand do the thinking. You don’t have to keep what you have written, and you certainly don’t need to show these pages to anybody. It just helps you get into the mindset of putting your thoughts into words in a natural way.

Find a Writing Group

If you want to grow and develop your writing skills, then a writing group may be the way forwards for you. As well as a chance to make new friends and receive valuable feedback on your own writing, writing groups offer you the drive to keep going. With many meetings online, finding a local writing group helps you become a better writer.

Return to the list of practices for Christians during Coronavirus: https://www.eden.co.uk/blog/7-practices-for-christians-during-coronavirus-p1784105