Time to Talk with Jess Pritchard
Time to Talk Day is the UK’s biggest mental health conversation — a moment dedicated to listening, sharing, and speaking honestly about what really matters.
Taking place on 5 February 2026, the day is led by mental health charity Mind, and it’s something Goho is proud to support.
To mark the occasion, we asked wellness entrepreneur, journaling advocate, and founder of MIRRA Journal Club, Jess Pritchard, to share her reflections on talking, mental health, and the role of journaling in helping us find our voice.
Here are her thoughts.
Jess on Time to Talk Day
Time to Talk Day is incredibly important to me.
For so many reasons, people can find it hard to speak openly, whether that’s because they lack a support system, are going through a busy or overwhelming period, or are carrying unresolved trauma. But I truly believe that talking is one of the most powerful things we can do for our mental health.
If speaking feels difficult, I often encourage people to journal first. Writing can help you make sense of your emotions, organise your thoughts, and find the words you want to share with others.
Like many women, I struggled in my early twenties with body image, confidence, and people-pleasing. I spent years prioritising everyone else’s needs above my own. Then, at 24, I lost my father, a moment that completely changed my life.
In my grief, I returned to something I’d loved since I was a teenager: journaling. Writing became a lifeline. It helped me process my pain, rebuild my confidence, and reconnect with myself. I realised I was tired of shrinking, and decided it was time to take up space in my own life.
That idea (Take Up Your Space) has become a mantra for me. It’s about self-love, emotional resilience, and trusting yourself. Journaling is one of the most powerful tools I’ve found to support that journey.
Why journaling matters
Journaling changed my life and is now a core part of my mental health practice — especially as an entrepreneur.
I talk about it constantly, and I’m often asked: What do I write? And why?
Journaling is known for its benefits in self-development, therapy, and mindfulness. It helps reduce stress, increase self-awareness, and build emotional resilience — all while deepening your relationship with yourself.
You’ve heard the saying tidy home, tidy mind? Well, your head is also your home. For me, journaling feels like tidying my bedroom: clearing mental clutter so I can think, rest, and breathe more easily.
We all experience overwhelm, confusion, or indecision. I use journaling for all of it, sometimes for big life decisions, but more often simply to stay connected to myself and protect my peace.
A few years ago, I was stuck on a decision for months. I’d spoken to friends, cried about it, and played out every possible scenario, yet still felt stuck.
One day on holiday, I went to the beach alone and asked a waiter for a pen and paper. I brain-dumped everything, no filtering, no phone, no distractions, and knowing no one would ever read it.
At that moment, I realised I already knew what to do. Seeing my thoughts on paper made the decision feel lighter and clearer. Journaling helped me reconnect with my gut.
How I journal
I always start with a brain dump: free-flow writing where I let my thoughts spill onto the page without structure, judgement, or editing. It doesn’t need to make sense or look pretty. It just needs to be honest.
After that, I turn to journal prompts to go deeper.
For Time to Talk Day, here are some prompts I’d recommend:
What am I finding hardest to talk about right now — and why?
What would it feel like if I allowed myself to be truly honest?
Who do I feel safest opening up to, and what makes them safe?
What am I carrying that I no longer need to hold alone?
How would the most confident version of me communicate my feelings?
What do I need to say out loud — even if it feels uncomfortable?
Finishing with affirmations
I like to end with affirmations — a way of bringing your thoughts onto your side.
Affirmations help build confidence, trust, and emotional strength. Choose 1–3 that resonate with you and write them out 5–10 times, or say them aloud:
I am enough.
I am someone good things happen to.
I can make a real difference to people’s day.
I am strong enough.
I have the power to make the right choices for me.
I am worthy of taking up space.
I am happy to be me.
If you’d like to explore journaling in real life, you can find out more about MIRRA Journal Club at @mirrajournalclub — with monthly events and community sessions in London.
At Goho, we regularly host wellness events for our own team and clients. If you’d like to bring something similar to your community, get in touch — we’d love to help.
