There was a season after my divorce where I felt like I was trying so hard to move forward… but everything inside me felt stuck. Not because I didn’t want to heal. Not because I wasn’t trying. But because emotionally… it felt like I was walking through quicksand.

You know that feeling? You’re doing the basics. You’re getting up. You’re working. You’re handling life. But inside, your mind and heart, it’s heavy, foggy, and unsteady.

Some days I felt like I couldn’t think clearly and other days I felt anxious for no reason. Sometimes it was like my brain was running in circles trying to make sense of something that didn’t make sense.

That’s when journaling became something more than a “habit.” It became a lifeline.

I Didn’t Journal to Be Productive… I Journaled to Breathe

I think people sometimes picture journaling as this peaceful, aesthetic thing… like you’re sitting by a window with a pretty notebook and a cup of tea. Sure…sometimes it can look like that. But my journaling didn’t start that way. Mine started because I needed somewhere to put what I was carrying because holding it all in my head was exhausting.

The replaying.

The questioning.

The anger.

The grief.

The “what now?”

Journaling gave me a place to release it so it wasn’t trapped in my body and mind.

What Journaling Actually Did for Me During Divorce Recovery

It didn’t “fix” my life overnight but it did something powerful: It helped me stabilize.

When my emotions felt like they were taking over… journaling slowed everything down long enough for me to breathe again. It helped me separate what I was feeling from what was true. It helped me stop spiraling long enough to hear my own thoughts again. It helped me refocus when I felt scattered, overwhelmed, and emotionally flooded…..And I don’t say that lightly.

Because when you’re in the middle of divorce recovery, your nervous system is on high alert. Your body doesn’t just calm down because someone tells you to “be strong.” You need tools. Journaling was one of mine.

The Real Reason Most Women Don’t Stick With Journaling

If journaling hasn’t worked for you in the past, I want to tell you something that might surprise you:

It’s not because you’re doing it wrong. It’s usually because you sit down… and you don’t know what to write. A blank page can feel like pressure. When you’re already overwhelmed, the last thing you want is another moment where you feel stuck or unsure. That’s why journaling questions matter so much. They give your brain direction.

Here are two that helped me when I was in that “quicksand” season:

• What am I feeling right now?
  
  
• What can I release that’s not serving me?

Even five minutes with one honest question can shift your entire day.

If You Want My Best Prompts (And a Free Printable)

I recorded a short bonus episode on my podcast, Becoming Her, Again: Healing After Divorce because I wanted to get this out quickly.

It pairs really well with my episode “The Day Everything Changed,” where we talked about stabilizing when you feel overwhelmed, lost, or anxious.

In the bonus episode show notes, I’m sharing five guided journaling questions to help you get started, and I also included a free printable download you can keep close for the hard days—so you’re never staring at a blank page wondering what to do.

If you’re in a tender place right now, don’t overthink it. Go listen, grab the prompts, and start with one question. It is currently available on Spotify and soon Apple Podcast and iHeart. 

Because you don’t have to heal all at once.

You just have to take the next step… and journaling can help you find your footing again