Anxious?  Depressed?  Frustrated?  Write It Out.

Journaling is a highly effective tool for many reasons. It can help put a challenging situation into perspective. It can help you work through your fear, anxiety and relationship issues. Best of all, it’s private and it’s free.

To get started, all you need is a notebook and a pen. Find a nice quiet place and begin describing the situation with which you’re dealing. A co-worker offended you. You’ve been overlooked for a promotion. You’re productivity is suffering and you don’t know why. Then begin to dissect the situation. List possible causes and state how you feel. Are you angry, sad or depressed? If others are involved, what might be behind their behavior.  Write until you have nothing else to add.

Then finish with possible solutions. Since you can only control yourself, write down actions you can take to resolve the situation. Does it warrant an apology or a heart to heart? Or if you’re in an emotional funk, maybe spending time with friends or in nature will refresh and rejuvenate you.