According to an article published in Current Issues in Education (Vol. 9, 2006), journals can be defined as the permanent records of thoughts and ideas that an individual has processed and clarified through the act of writing or otherwise recording their experiences.

The article accentuates the importance of leaning through reflection. Journal writing is said to give learners the opportunity to shape their ideas, create new ideas, and connect them to what they already know. The benefits of journaling go beyond “writing to learn,” but are rather a way to record thoughts and ideas before they evaporate from our minds. The article suggests the true benefit of processing an idea into language is that it forces us to clarify our ideas.

This makes sense. I can relate this to my rambling thoughts. Only until I write out a series of thoughts do they start to resemble a clear idea. In fact, when I think back on my school years, the subjects I remember most clearly are those that I was forced to write about. My composition class required a daily journal entry and reflecting on the topics assigned in “Streams of Consciousness,” a psychology course I took in college, was essential for discussions during class. Maybe everyone should have a notepad for reflecting and writing down ideas. The composition notebook is a good place to start. The pages are permanently bound for safe keeping. Get yours on Next Day.

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