The evening is a naturally reflective time of the day, when thoughts can end up going round and round in your head, landing on worst-case scenarios and interpretations. Five Minutes in the Evening is a guided journal designed to help you integrate any emotions experienced or discoveries made during the day and reflect on how you are feeling through the practice of journaling. The mere act of putting your thoughts onto paper can slow them down enough to allow you to consider them calmly rather than feeling consumed or overwhelmed by them. The human brain has a tendency to lean toward negative thinking, and so a few minutes of evening journaling is a very helpful tool for developing more positive mental habits.
Focusing on gratitude has been shown to increase a person's sense of wellbeing and optimism, and describing the sensations associated with an activity you enjoy, such as how you feel in nature or while chatting to a good friend, offers similar benefits to the activity itself - your body will begin to feel the calm, grounded sensations that you feel in nature, or the sense of connection that you have while talking with a friend. Journaling is an excellent practice for clearing the clutter of your day and your mind. Simply writing down all the to-do lists that are floating around in your head, making you worried, can feel like a great relief. Many of the prompts and practices in this journal are based on the theme of letting go, as so many of us have a natural tendency to hold on to thoughts and mental or emotional baggage that are no longer serving us. In today's busy world, it can also be helpful to dedicate a few minutes at the end of the day to doing less, to allow your energy to settle in preparation for restful sleep and to consider what really matters to you.