These days, however, you might choose up journals for other factors. There’s one journaling topic you might not hear about as typically: sex.
“Journaling about sex can add a layer of mindfulness to your sex life,” states Shadeen Francis, L.M.F.T., a therapist who specializes in sex therapy and psychological intelligence. If you’re open to the procedure, a sex journal can help you reflect on your desires, experiences, and fantasies.
1. A sex journal can assist you process your experiences.
“Journaling, for so long, has actually been used as a restorative method to help individuals reflect on their thoughts and their sensations,” says Madeline Cooper, L.C.S.W., a sex therapist who sees both people and couples. No matter what your sex life looks like, a sex journal can help you process it.
2. You might discover more about your libido.
With a sex journal, you can check out both how sex feels for you and why you’re doing it. “In some cases sex can be this thing people do just to get it over with or since they feel they need to have sex to be a great partner,” Hochberger says, adding that a routine journaling practice allows you to slow down and end up being more aware of your motivations.
Tracking your sex life can also assist you see patterns that might influence how, when, or why you desire (or don’t want) sex. Perhaps you’re actually horny the week before your duration starts, or maybe sex hurts at that point of your cycle. Perhaps slow, sensual sex makes you feel connected with your partner. Or perhaps you feel closest to them when the sex is rough. Keeping an eye on what occurs and how you feel throughout sex can make these patterns clearer.
3. Sex journaling might make it much easier to interact with partners.
Sex can be a packed discussion subject for partnered people, states Pamela Happiness, M.A., a therapy psychologist and Somatica Institute– certified sex and relationship coach. Some of the most mind-blowing conversations for couples who go to sex therapy include what they did or didn’t like about their newest encounters. This isn’t unexpected. There’s considerable societal pressure, especially for cis ladies who have sex with cis males, to be coy about sex. Fear around injuring a partner’s feelings can keep couples from being open about their likes and dislikes too. “I often discover that without that talk, they would never ever really know what about their sex was interesting or enjoyable,” Happiness states.
Whether you prepare to share it with your partners or not, writing a sex journal gets that discussion began. If you understand what you like (and do not like) throughout sex, you’ll have an easier time discussing it.
“Journaling about sex can add a layer of mindfulness to your sex life,” states Shadeen Francis, L.M.F.T., a therapist who specializes in sex treatment and emotional intelligence. No matter what your sex life looks like, a sex journal can help you process it.
Tracking your sex life can likewise assist you see patterns that might affect how, when, or why you desire (or do not desire) sex. Sex can be a loaded discussion subject for partnered people, states Pamela Pleasure, M.A., a therapy psychologist and Somatica Institute– licensed sex and relationship coach. There’s considerable societal pressure, specifically for cis ladies who have sex with cis males, to be coy about sex.
