Journaling – Experimenting

Journaling came up several times this week. Nurse leaders in a Leadership Academy spoke about change efforts they were making at work to increase involvement of patients, reducing noise in the hospital, trying to help their teams work better together. I spoke with someone facing increased symptoms also receiving more and more friendly, loving advice about treating those symptoms from professionals, friends and acquaintances. Each of these people could benefit from journaling. Life is a continuous experiment. Keep trying stuff – some works, some doesn’t. I find it helps to keep track in relative real-time. Going back to see where I’ve come with information to pass on to colleagues and caregivers. Journaling is writing it down – on paper or electronically. If you hadn’t noticed, this blog is a very public way for me to journal.  So, with the nurse leaders, journaling is taking a moment periodically, every day or week, to jot down emotions, activities, responses, movement, barriers. For the person at the center of care, jot down symptoms, what makes it better, what makes it worse, what you tried, what was suggested that you didn’t try, what would you like to try? Check out DayOne Journaling if you have an Apple device.  Paper is always good, too. If you are a caregiver or friend of the person at the center, offer to keep the journal for them. It’s a bridge builder.