Recently, I had a double 'a-ha' moment, realising that;

I have a lifetime habit of writing, that I was unaware of, and
I think differently depending on whether I am writing by hand, typing, or dictating.

This insight got me thinking about when I write, why, and for what purpose.

I use all three methods (handwriting, typing, and dictating), but have a preference depending upon the reason I am wanting to capture those words. Typing lends itself to more reasoned thought. Dictating (into the notes app on my smartphone) lends itself to thoughts and sentences that come fully formed, or conversely are snippets of ideas for possible use ‘someday’. And handwriting tends to be for list writing and scrawled post-it notes, but also for heartfelt, outpouring of feeling type stuff (mostly captured in a notebook or journal).

Writing or Journaling

Writing about our thoughts and feelings is often called journaling. Yet when I was a child, it was simply writing. And then as a teen, it was ‘writing a diary’ (which no-one was ever, ever allowed to read!). Now as an adult, the term journaling is used and perhaps gives this habit greater meaning and gravitas than if we were to call it simply 'writing'.

Research has found there are physical as well as mental benefits when you handwrite your thoughts in the form of a journal. Some of the benefits of regular writing include;

activates your brain
helps reduce stress
improves your spelling
helps you remember
helps you think faster
stronger immune system (due to lower stress levels)
enhanced sleep

Plus, handwriting reinforces neural activity in your brain (similar to meditation) and forces you to slow down, be in the moment. In this way writing or journaling is rather like a form of meditation. Bonus!

Writing as therapy

After my insight, I realised that writing, whether it be a journal or letters, has helped me through many of the most challenging times of my life. Traveling half-way around the world by myself for the first time when I was sixteen, working and living in another country when I was eighteen, and the slow dragging of time with a high-anxiety pregnancy; these were all times when writing helped me not only capture my thoughts and feelings but also make sense of what I was feeling and preserve my memories of those experiences. In this way, writing was and has been therapeutic.

When we write things out, especially about events that we have a strong emotional response to, we process them a little more.

The act of writing helps us remember, and helps us understand our emotions. The simple act of putting into words what you are feeling in your heart is incredibly powerful. It assists us to know how we actually feel. As William Faulkner said,

“I never know what I think about something until I read what I have written on it.”

Writing our thoughts and feelings is a valid and often used therapy technique that can actually change the way we react to certain circumstances and situations. By writing things out, we discover our intentions, increase our self-awareness, and can have personal insights. I have found that writing is a great exercise to do when I need to make sense of a situation or wish to “talk” it through with myself.

It’s also a low-cost exercise with big benefits unless you use a fancy leather-bound notebook and specialist pen – but even then, it’s less expensive than years of therapy.

Try it yourself

Give it a go, using whatever method (by hand, typing, dictating, or something else) feels and fits best for you. It's a personal choice regarding which approach you use, it doesn’t take long, nor cost much, but can be really beneficial. No need for a pretty notebook; a word document, the notes app on your smartphone, or even the back of an envelope can all work for a quick capturing of your thoughts and feelings. So, why not give it a try!

It's Okay to journal.

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