Pregnancy is a big deal for any woman, and can come with a huge array of side effects – be they physical (such as developing a dark line down the stomach, known as linea nigra), or mental, like anxiety. Something that's totally normal when you're going through a huge life change and gearing up to welcome a child into the world.
For supermodel Gigi Hadid, who gave birth to Khai, the daughter she shares with singer Zayn Malik, ten months ago, the latter was a very real experience throughout her pregnancy. Luckily though, she's shared that she found a clever and efficient way of coping with her pregnancy anxiety and fears about impending motherhood.
During an interview with Harper's Bazaar, Gigi said that she found keeping journals to be a game-changer – but rather than just having the one notebook, she kept two while she was expecting. One 'good' journal and one 'bad' journal.
"During my pregnancy, I had one journal that I called my 'good journal' and one journal that I called my 'bad journal'," Gigi explained. "They weren’t that literal, but one was more for the memories, for Khai. Maybe one day I’ll give her the bad journal just to be real about it."
As for what she would write about in her 'bad' journal, Gigi said it wasn't so much negative thoughts about anyone or anything in particular, but rather her fears and less positive notes.
"Anxieties and days where I felt like, 'Am I good enough to be a mom?'... I didn’t want to feel guilty about feeling those things or writing those things down," she said. "I just liked the separation." If you ask us, that makes total sense and is a pretty smart way of going about it. Gigi also remarked during the interview that she is a fan of having regular therapy and channeling herself into a creative project as a form of self-care.
"I also have sketch pads where I’ll watercolor-sketch, and sometimes I end up writing there too," she added. "I write on the back of receipts and keep those in a notebook. I’m not particular about it, and my journals are everywhere around the house. I just pick up whichever one is closest to me and write."
When speaking to Cosmopolitan previously about the power of journalling your thoughts and emotions, psychotherapist Lindsay George explained the core benefits.
"Many people find journaling therapeutic," she confirmed. "One of its key benefits for your mental health is that it helps with emotional regulation by managing stress and anxiety better, reducing feelings of distress and increasing wellbeing." Lindsay noted that it can also be an effective tool for planning, keeping track of your moods/any behavioural patterns and identifying triggers, and untangling complicated issues.
"Some people find writing a journal particularly cathartic, in that it acts as a way of emptying their thoughts and clearing their mind," she says. "Others find it allows them to create more clarity, accountability and an awareness of their responsibility in part to a situation that may be preoccupying them."
As for how to get started, Helen Colebrook, author of Journal With Purpose and Journal With Purpose Layout Ideas 101, advises going in with a plan, Googling 'journalling prompter questions' to get the ball rolling and ensuring you carve out proper time in your schedule to write – don't rush it.
We admire your candidness, Gigi!
Shop mental health journals here:
Jennifer Savin is Cosmopolitan UK's multiple award-winning Features Editor, who was crowned Digital Journalist of the Year for her work tackling the issues most important to young women. She regularly covers breaking news, cultural trends, health, the royals and more, using her esteemed connections to access the best experts along the way. She's grilled everyone from high-profile politicians to A-list celebrities, and has sensitively interviewed hundreds of people about their real life stories. In addition to this, Jennifer is widely known for her own undercover investigations and campaign work, which includes successfully petitioning the government for change around topics like abortion rights and image-based sexual abuse. Jennifer is also a published author, documentary consultant (helping to create BBC’s Deepfake Porn: Could You Be Next?) and a patron for Y.E.S. (a youth services charity). Alongside Cosmopolitan, Jennifer has written for The Times, Women’s Health, ELLE and numerous other publications, appeared on podcasts, and spoken on (and hosted) panels for the Women of the World Festival, the University of Manchester and more. In her spare time, Jennifer is a big fan of lipstick, leopard print and over-ordering at dinner. Follow Jennifer on Instagram, X or LinkedIn.
