Between juggling work, family, and the endless invisible to-do list, most mums know what it feels like to be running on mental overdrive. We’re always thinking three steps ahead — school lunches, permission forms, that email that we forgot to reply to — all while trying to stay present in the moment. And our teems? They’re feeling it too. Different pressures, same overwhelm.

The truth is, we’re living with overstimulated minds. And while we might wish for a weekend away or an extra hour in the day, sometimes the smallest changes make the biggest difference.

That’s where journaling — yes, old-fashioned pen to paper — comes in. Not as a perfect Pinterest project, but as a simple, powerful way to help process what’s going on inside.

Breanna Jayne Sada, Child and Adolescent Psychologist and Jumble & Co ambassador, says “Young Australians are telling us that they feel the squeeze from every angle — academic pressure, financial stress, and the ongoing weight of climate change and global uncertainty. All of which is coming at them at an algorithmically-fast speed on social platforms.”

“Journaling is like exercise for the mind. Putting thought on paper activates the brain’s problem-solving centre while calming the area linked to stress. Gratitude journaling can lift mood, reflective journaling  helps process experiences, and goal-setting builds motivation. Even five minutes a day can make the mind feel lighter.”

For mums, journaling can be a gentle way to ease the mental load and a way to create a space that’s just for you. For teens, it’s a healthy outlet for emotions and self-reflection.

A Journal for Every Mind

This month, in recognition of World Mental Health Day (October 10), Jumble & Co by Collins Debden has launched a newly expended range of its In Two Minds journals. The collection was originally created to help young Australians manage their mental health, but the messages inside speak to anyone who’s trying to find balance — including the adults guiding them.

Each journal in the collection serves a unique wellbeing focus:

Sleep Journal (new) – Track sleep patterns, interpret dreams, and strengthen memory retention

Fitness Journal (new) – Record nutrition, progress, workouts, and goals, with space for new recipes and training plans.

Manifestation Journal (new) – A dedicated space to attract desires and map out a dream life.

Relationship Journal (new) – Supprts building healthy connections through trust, open communication, and mutual understanding.

Mindfulness Journal – Encourages grounding practices and mindful self-reflection.

Wellness Journal – Supports building routines, reflection, and balanced living.

Gratitude Journal – Promotes positivity by capturing gratitude and future hopes.

Designed with split-tone pages and covers, the In Two Minds collection represents the two sides of emotion, reminding us that balancing our feelings is an everyday act of resilience. Inside the thoughtfully designed layout creates two saces: one for calm reflection and one for messy, expressive release, showing how both sides of the mind work together to restore balance.

Shahrazz Hayat, CEO of Jumble & Co explains, “The split design of the In Two Minds range is symbolic of the balance we all seek within the binary of our creative and structured sides. We want to provide young Australians with practical tools that are not only functional but a source of comfort, inspiration and empowerment.”

It’s a message that resonates far beyond the teenage years. Finding balance — between structure and spontaneity, calm and chaos — is something every parent can relate to.

The Science of Slowing Down

There’s plenty of research to show that writing helps us to regulate emotions. When we put feelings into words, the brain’s stress response decreases. The act of writing gives shape to what’s overwhelming, and that simple sense of order can make a huge emotional difference.

Journaling can help teens who are navigating anxiety, perfectionism, or pressure from social media. It can laso help parents unpack frustration, fatigue, or guilt — the emotions we often supress while we are busy taking care of everyone else.

The best part is that you don’t need to dedicate an hour or have a perfectly curated setup. Just five minutes before bed or in the morning with a cup of coffee can be enough to clear mental clutter and start the day lighter.

There’s also an added layer of good: the In two Minds collection supports Lifeline Australia in its mission to provide essential crisis support and suicide prevention services, with 10% of all online sales from the Collins Debden Australia site donated  directly to the mental health charity.

So while you’re taking care of your mental health, you’re helping others too!

Five Minutes for Calm

Next time the world feels a little too much, for you or your teen, reach for a notebook instead of your phone. It doesn’t need to be neat, poetic or perfect. Just write. Let it all out: the worries, the gratitude, the lists, the noise.

Because five minutes might not sound like much, but it can be enough to calm an overloaded mind — no matter your age.