Like most people, you probably think of journaling as a tool for recording your thoughts and memories. Perhaps you kept a dream journal as a kid or wrote in a diary whenever you felt like the world was crumbling around you. But did you know that journaling can be a powerful tool for improving mental and emotional health?

When done regularly, journaling can provide benefits such as reducing stress, elevating your mood, increasing self-awareness, and promoting creativity and concentration. 

But what exactly is journaling?

The term, journaling, means different things to different people. 

However, at a high level, journaling is writing down your thoughts, feelings, plans, goals, and everything in-between to assist you with managing your life and improving your productivity and focus. Keeping a journal can be as simple as writing weekly or monthly in a notebook. Or, it can become as complex as having a detailed, tab-divided book that you revisit and reflect on daily. 

To start, you need a notebook, sketchbook, and a writing utensil. It's that easy. A hardcover sketchbook is an excellent option because it doesn't limit you to words and provides much more creative freedom. 

Writing in a journal can help you reflect and assist with identifying your path forward, which is therapeutic for many. In addition, writing in a journal has many surprising benefits, such as reducing stress, improving your mental health, and understanding your thoughts and values more clearly.

Hey there, welcome to the herd! In this video, we discuss Taylor and I's take on how we beat the post holiday slump when we returned to work and also give you a bunch of tips on how to do it. Check us out on our website or read the article we talk about on the podcast here!

It's that time of year again—the beginning. 

Time for us to feel energized enough to tackle our New Year's Resolutions while also crashing down from the holiday bliss. 

The holiday season has many holidays to enjoy and share time with family and friends. Unfortunately, it's fast-paced, fun, and too short. Many of us return to work during the first week of January, leaving us tired, hungover, and resentful. We've been thrown off our routine for some time now, so returning to reality can be difficult. 

However, it doesn't have to be that way. 

Check out these five daily recommendations to help you get through your week back to work and elevate your mood. 

Berger Michele W. Berger Writer , M. W. (2018, November 9). Social media use increases depression and loneliness. Penn Today. Retrieved from https://penntoday.upenn.edu/news/social-media-use-increases-depression-and-loneliness

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, June 16). Benefits of Physical Activity. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/basics/pa-health/index.htm

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2022, July 15). Get Enough Sleep. Get Enough Sleep - MyHealthfinder. Retrieved from https://health.gov/myhealthfinder/healthy-living/mental-health-and-relationships/get-enough-sleep

Welcome to Herding the Homestead -- Herd and Homestead's flagship podcast! In today's episode we are going over a book Zac recently read called "Smart Brevity". See quick facts below:

• Herd and Homestead Rating

• How much does Smart Brevity cost

• How many pages is Smart Brevity

• How long to read Smart Brevity

• Where can you get Smart Brevity

Smart Brevity was a great read and I recommend it to anyone trying to become more productive. We spend most of our lives creating or reading communications, which makes it critical that we do less and say more every time we communicate. Smart Brevity gives us a road map to do exactly that.

Smart Brevity was a fantastic read, and you can pick it up on Amazon here. If you want more information on productivity, check out some of our other articles suggested below.

• Herd and Homestead Website
• Cut the Bull - A “Smart Brevity” Book Review
• How To Overcome the Post Holiday Slump When Returning to Work
• The Surprising Benefits of Journaling: Why You Should Start Today

Hey there, welcome to the herd! In this video, you will be introduced to the exciting world of Herd and Homestead. We will cover the basics of our lives and our business! So whether you're just starting out or you're a seasoned pro, make sure to stick around – because homesteading is always more fun with friends. Check us out on our website!