The Benefits Of Audio Journaling, The Self-Care Practice You’re Going To Love

The benefits of journaling are plentiful and well-known, but many of us simply can’t find the time, energy, or willpower to do it. The thought of sitting down with a blank notebook and pen and writing pages upon pages of your thoughts and feelings isn’t necessarily an inviting one to many people. However, that’s where audio journaling comes in. The self-care practice of recording your thoughts and feelings vocally on your phone is so popular has more than 2.8 billion views on TikTok and counting, and for good reason: It’s convenient, fulfilling, and extremely effective.

Below are some of the biggest benefits of audio journaling as well as some tips to get started if you’re feeling a bit intimidated.

1. You can say exactly what’s on your mind without a filter. When you’re writing things down, it’s all too easy to censor yourself and only document the good stuff. You might avoid jotting down feelings or experiences you’re embarrassed about or hold back on truly letting out what’s on your mind. With audio journaling, it’s much easier to just blurt everything out as it comes into your head.
2. It’s convenient — you can do it anytime, anywhere. If you do standard journaling, you need to find somewhere to sit, take out your pen and notebook, and write. That can be hard to do if you’re always on the go, and by the time you get the opportunity to record what’s going on, it’s gone out of your head.
3. You don’t need anything but your phone. No pens or notebooks necessary — your phone does the job. We’re all obsessed with our phones anyway, so chances are you take it with you everywhere you go. The lack of outside items needed make audio journaling incredibly convenient AND cost-effective. What’s not to love?
4. It helps you reflect on events and get in touch with yourself. Like regular journaling, audio journaling serves the same purpose of connecting you with your deepest thoughts and feelings. By reviewing those, you can get a better understanding of your own thought processes and reflect on whether or not you feel the same about certain people or situations in hindsight. The better you understand yourself, the happier you’ll be.
5. It’s cathartic to release pent-up emotions. You know it feels good to vent to your besties, but there are some things you don’t (or can’t) even share with them. But that doesn’t mean you need to keep them in. Audio journaling let’s you reduce stress and anxiety by getting it all out. You’ll feel like a weight is lifted off your shoulders.
6. It’s an easy way to document big events. Writing things down can take a long time, especially if you’re recording a major happening. Not so with audio journaling, which allows you to record it with your own voice. It takes a fraction of the time and allows you to insert your own tone and emphasis.

Getting started with audio journaling

@_katbailey_

I don’t know what I was going through on July 24th. #journalingideas #journaling #healingjourney #audiojournal

♬ Get Down – Nas

1. Set a routine. If you want to experience the benefits of audio journaling, you’ll need to do it regularly. While one of the most convenient aspects is the ability to do it wherever, whenever, it’s helpful to set aside a time when you know you’re not busy to do a recording even when there’s nothing big going on. Getting into a habit may take a while, but eventually, it will become part of your daily routine.
2. Don’t censor yourself — be candid. Don’t be embarrassed or ashamed of your thoughts and feelings. Allow yourself to speak freely and don’t judge yourself. The real benefits are felt when you exercise unfettered honesty. Not only will you feel better for being able to let go of those emotions and thoughts, but you’ll also be better able to reflect on them and react to them in the future.
3. Consider checking out journal prompts if you need a bit of inspiration. Sometimes life is a bit humdrum and there’s nothing major to discuss. That doesn’t mean you can’t still practice audio journaling. If you’re stuck for things to talk about, you can still utilize this form of self-care by looking into journal prompts. You’d be surprised at how enjoyable and fulfilling they can be.
4. Listen back to what you’ve said later. If you want to get the most out of your audio journaling practice, you’ll need to revisit some of your recordings. This is particularly important when you’ve been talking about a major life event or something important. By listening to it again, you can explore your feelings more as well as gain some added perspective.
5. Keep your recordings secure. If your phone automatically uploads your files to the cloud, make sure you have enhanced security members in place. Putting two-factor authentication measures in place is one way to do so, and will give you the peace of mind knowing your journals won’t fall into the wrong hands.