wellness
Journaling as a mindfulness tool: how to start
Old Town residents are picking up notebooks to anchor daily attention as summer schedules intensify.
How we reported this
More people along Wells Street have started keeping daily notebooks this summer to track thoughts without screens.
The practice gained traction after a national survey showed rising interest in low-cost mental routines following economic uncertainty reports from earlier this year. In Old Town the shift shows up in crowded early-morning benches near the intersection of North Avenue and Clark Street, where residents write for ten minutes before heading to work.
The Old Town Triangle Association now lists two weekly journaling meet-ups, one at its community room on North Park Avenue and another through the nearby Lincoln Park branch of the Chicago Public Library. Both groups supply paper and prompts focused on breath awareness and three-sentence gratitude entries.
Local programs offering structure
A March 2025 study by the American Psychological Association found that adults who journaled four times a week reduced reported anxiety scores by 27 percent over eight weeks. The same research noted average supply costs stayed under $12 for a three-month notebook and pen set. Old Town participants pay $15 to join the Triangle Association sessions, which run on Tuesdays at 7 a.m.
Simple steps to begin
Start with a single lined page and set a timer for five minutes. Write whatever surfaces, then close the notebook without rereading. Repeat at the same time each day, whether on a bench outside the Old Town Ale House or at the kitchen table. After two weeks many locals add a second prompt, such as naming one physical sensation noticed during the session. Those who want guidance can sign up for the next library cohort beginning July 22.