Part of being confident is knowing yourself, and journaling is a simple, effective way to build your self-awareness. Putting pen to paper (or thumbs to screen) helps you process emotions, track personal growth, and see just how far you’ve come. “Free-writing is pretty low-pressure because no one else has to see what you wrote. It’s for you. You get to hear your own voice and follow your thoughts and ideas,” says McKleroy.
Research shows that journaling can boost your mood, increase emotional awareness, and reduce stress. Best of all, there’s no single right way to do it: Start with a blank page, follow a prompt, jot thoughts in your Notes app, or experiment with styles like bullet journaling, junk journaling, or a simple gratitude list.