Journaling Topics that Refuel Motivation in ED Recovery

As someone who has been a professional writer for almost 10 years (and a writing enthusiast for my whole life), I am a firm believer in journaling. Granted, I have not maintained a consistent journaling rhythm in the season where I find myself now. But when I commit to this self-care practice on a regular basis, I feel connected to my goals, priorities, and intentions for healing. Moreover, I am compelled to take meaningful, decisive actions that align with those priorities. So if you, like me, have fallen into a journaling rut over the past weeks or months, here are some journaling topics to refuel your motivation in eating disorder recovery.

10 Journaling Topics for Eating Disorder Recovery Motivation

Journaling is one of my favorite coping mechanisms to restore balance, cultivate resilience, stabilize my emotions, and reframe my thoughts when the anxieties of daily life tempt me back into an eating disorder spiral. There is something intuitive and therapeutic about molding my abstract human experiences into concrete, salient words I can make sense of. Writing is how I process what it means to be alive—to heal, learn, stretch, and grow. It helps me understand my feelings, lean into discomforts, confront fears or challenges, and nurture self-awareness. I recommend it as an outlet to refuel motivation in eating disorder recovery.

It can be so beneficial to have a safe, private medium in which to freely sort through all the complexities of healing—the emotions, doubts, insecurities, behavioral urges, and unforeseen circumstances. Whether you are a seasoned journal writer or new to this practice entirely, I would encourage you to reach for a notebook and a pen in moments when you feel too overwhelmed to do anything else.

And if you are not quite sure where to start, below are 10 journaling topics to refuel eating disorder recovery motivation. 

1. How would it feel to cultivate a relationship of love and acceptance with your body? 
2. What steps can you take to experience total freedom in the areas of eating and exercise?
3. What would you invest time and energy in if you were not consumed by an eating disorder?
4. How do you define healing, and what are a few specific "whys" that make you want to heal?
5. How would your friendships or family connections strengthen if you committed to recovery?
6. What are some truths you can use to combat and reframe negative beliefs about yourself?  
7. What internalized cultural messages is it time to release at this stage in the healing process?
8. How do you react to triggers, and can you make a plan to handle them more constructively? 
9. How can you tend to your unresolved traumas, uncomfortable emotions, or unmet needs?
10. What are some qualities (both internal and external) you appreciate about yourself?

Use these Journaling Topics for Eating Disorder Recovery Motivation

Do you find journaling to be a useful, beneficial tool for healing? What are some journaling topics you turn to in moments of temptation, difficulty, or overwhelm? Does journaling help refuel your motivation in eating disorder recovery? I would love to hear your insights and experiences, so please share them in the comment section below.