—
Please Note: This is a paid article that is presented for informational purposes only and is not meant to diagnose or treat any illness. If you have any health concern, see a licensed healthcare professional in person. This article does not constitute an endorsement or approval of this product or any claim, statement or opinion used in promotion of this product.
Many people neglect their mental health to the point of not seeking treatment. I am here to tell you that you can’t do this. You have to know what you are doing with your life. There are many ways to improve mental health and make sure it is always at its best!
Video diaries can be one great solution. Video diaries are an enjoyable way to keep your emotions in check, and it’s not even that hard. All you have to do is film yourself talking about anything for 10-20 minutes each day or so, and you’ll feel less stressed, less isolated, and more connected to the world around you. This article will tell you what you need to create a video diary for improving your mental health. Let’s not delay any longer and dive right in.
What is a Video Diary and How Does it Work?
As its name suggests, a video diary is a journal documenting your thoughts and feelings on video. It is common for people to use video diaries to combat loneliness or confusion about their lives. Journaling in this form is something I have found to be very helpful. When you feel low or confused, it helps to articulate what you’re thinking and how you feel in order to process them more effectively.
I’ve also found that video diaries can provide a type of therapy through self-exploration and expression. Video diaries allow you to reflect on your life and tell yourself stories about what you have gained, lost, or are currently doing. They allow you to see your past in a new light and talk out loud about the things that have been weighing on your heart for far too long.
I don’t know that I had ever really heard of video diaries before starting it myself. It wasn’t until I came across a video where someone was talking about emotions and feelings about their life that I realized how much of a rewarding experience it would be to create my own. Most of what we consider therapy revolves around sitting down in front of someone and telling them your problems. While this certainly has its merits, I have found more healing power in talking to yourself. When we tell someone else our problems, we often only do it because we want them to fix us and solve our issues for us. In this way, when help never comes, we are left with an unfulfilled feeling of disappointment. This is not the case for video diaries, though. We are simply talking to ourselves, then trying to make sense of the problems that have been swimming around in our heads for far too long.
How to Create a Video Diary
Creating a video diary doesn’t have to be overly complicated. However, if we are going to take the time to record ourselves sharing our feelings and possibly one day with others, it is nice to take a few steps to make your video diary entries look good. Here are a few tips on making your videos look professional.
Camera
There are many cameras to choose from on the market with various features, but the best camera for YouTube may be your cell phone. Newer cell phones produce excellent picture quality and, when paired with an external microphone, can create a very professional-looking video. However, if you are serious about your video diary and want to make videos that look top-notch, then a DSLR or HD video camera will be necessary. Be sure to look for one that produces 1080p or 4k quality video and can be paired with an external microphone.
Microphones
If you are not using a video camera that includes a microphone, which many newer cameras do, make sure to use an external microphone. Make sure it can pick up your voice from at least 3-4 feet away and that it is noise canceling. A microphone that does this will ensure the best sound quality possible. Poorly recorded audio can be distracting and make some of your words inaudible.
Lighting
Lighting is critical when recording yourself for your diary, especially if you put the video on YouTube or Vimeo. Using a lamp or other lighting device that can be placed between the camera and yourself is a good start. However, if you were looking to improve the quality, a ring light would be a good solution. Ring lights are placed around your camera and provide even lighting for your video. They are cheap and can be purchased from many online retailers.
Backgrounds
Backgrounds play an important role in videos. Even if you are in your bedroom, add some props next to you to create a more interesting background for the video. If you don’t have a great place to shoot your video, that is interesting. A green screen is another option. A greenscreen is a green background that can easily be swapped with inexpensive software for a photo of your choice. The ring light mentioned above is the perfect green screen lighting. Swapping backgrounds will make your videos more visually interesting and can even be changed to reflect the subject of the video.
In Conclusion
There are many benefits to keeping a video diary, and we’ve talked about some of them in this article, but we want to recap the most important takeaways. First off, if you don’t know your goals for making a video diary or why you want to make one, it can be challenging to keep going when things get tough, and motivation is low. You need to set milestones and deadlines to record yourself every day or week to develop a good habit. Secondly, as we discussed earlier in this post, many mental health benefits come from video journaling. Reduced stress levels, reduced isolation, and being more connected to the world around you are just some of those benefits. Finally, one of the most important takeaways we want to leave you with is not giving up on yourself. We are all guilty of spiraling into self-doubt and negativity from time to time. Video journaling puts us in touch with who we truly are and allows us to connect with those around us like never before.
—