We all hit those moments when everything feels heavier than it should — when stress builds quietly, patience runs thin, and the most minor frustrations push us to the edge. It’s easy to overlook how much our inner dialogue shapes our day. Yet often, the solution isn’t found in doing more or escaping the moment — it’s in pausing long enough to understand what’s really going on inside.
Last Tuesday, I was stressed, frustrated, and agitated. My patience was wearing thin, and unfortunately, Evie had to bear the brunt of it. By about 3 pm, I’d reached a tipping point.
I wasn’t feeling 100%. Fatigue had crept in, and my mind was cluttered with a dozen different worries. The anxiousness kept building — I felt like I was about to erupt. The irony was that I was on holiday with Evie and her friend, the weather was perfect, and life should have felt effortless. But internally, it was chaos.
That’s when I thought to myself: I need to journal this. I needed to get everything out of my head and onto paper — to see my thoughts laid out in front of me.
My goal was simple: to document what was weighing me down. I’d list my concerns, unpack them one by one, and then outline possible solutions — even ranking them by priority.
So I sat down and started writing. In the end, I had seven bullet points — seven distinct issues that were gnawing at me.
I was just about to order them by severity when Evie and her friend called out for some help with a water activity. Naturally, I dropped everything and joined them.
As time passed and I focused on the kids, something shifted. It felt like a pressure valve had been released. The act of writing things down — even without solving anything — had already lightened the load.
It hit me: simply documenting my worries had eased my mind.
That small moment became a big reminder of how powerful journaling can be. You don’t always need answers or action plans. Sometimes, just writing your problems down is enough to dilute your stress, bring clarity, and help you feel better.
This experience reminded me how closely journaling aligns with the principles of Stoicism. Ancient Stoic philosophers like Marcus Aurelius and Seneca used journaling as a daily practice — not as a diary of events, but as a tool for self-examination, reflection, and emotional regulation.
At its core, Stoicism teaches us to separate what we can control from what we can’t, and to respond to life’s challenges with rationality, composure, and virtue. Journaling serves that exact purpose: it helps you externalise your thoughts, observe them objectively, and defuse their emotional charge.
When you write, you create distance between yourself and your problems. You move from feeling overwhelmed to thinking clearly. That shift is deeply Stoic — it transforms chaos into order and emotion into understanding.
In the broader context of a wellness framework, the relationship between journaling and Stoicism is profound. Together, they cultivate mindfulness, self-awareness, and resilience. They promote a calmer mind, a stronger sense of control, and the ability to navigate stress with perspective.
In a world that constantly pulls us into noise and reaction, the simple act of writing — of quietly reflecting on what’s within your control — can be a daily anchor. It’s not just self-help; it’s philosophy in practice.
Next time you feel overwhelmed, grab a notebook (or open your laptop diary) instead of your phone. Write down what’s on your mind — every frustration, every worry, every unfinished thought. You don’t need to fix anything right away. Just write.
As the Stoics knew well, clarity begins when emotion meets reason on paper. Journaling won’t erase your problems, but it will give you something far more valuable — perspective. And from perspective comes peace.