How journaling helps us process the pandemic

Hobbies like knitting, video games and playing music are gaining popularity as the pandemic drags on and we’re spending more time at home. A growing number of Americans are also finding solace in journaling to make sense of a difficult time.

Journaling serves different purposes for different people. Maybe you keep a log of groceries and other small notes to yourself during the day, or maybe your journal is an escape into a world of art and self-expression. Some research has shown that journaling can improve mental well-being and decrease stress. 

Beyond the self-care benefits it has, journaling can also be a window into history. Journals can serve as archives — ones that are meticulously curated and personal. As we reflect on the past year, journals can be a way of memorializing an unprecedented time.

Guests:

• Audrey Truschke is an associate professor of history at Rutgers University.

• Molly Anthony is a local artist and co-facilitator of the MN Visual Journal Collective.

• Brenda Hudson is a writer and instructor at The Loft Literary Center.

Use the audio player above to listen to the program.

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